ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Combined Heat and Power

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when combined heat and power was last discussed at the Sustainable Energy Policy Network; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what studies the Sustainable Energy Policy Network has commissioned on combined heat and power; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what (a) fiscal and (b) regulatory measures are being considered by the Sustainable Energy Policy Network to encourage combined heat and power.

Elliot Morley: Within government Defra takes the lead for policy on combined heat and power (CHP) and CHP is regularly discussed at the monthly meetings of the Sustainable Energy Policy Programme Board.
	Since the publication of the Energy White Paper the Government have commissioned the following studies on combined heat and power:
	Modelling Good Quality Combined Heat and Power Capacity to 2010: This report was published in October and is available on the DTI website.
	National Allocation Plan: Implications and Options for CHP: This report was published in February and is available on the Defra website.
	A third study evaluates the UK potential for CHP and will be published shortly.
	In developing the final CHP Strategy for publication after the Easter Recess we have been considering the full range of policy options to support achievement of the CHP target of 10,000MWe by 2010.

Combined Heat and Power

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to use combined heat and power to cut fuel poverty.

Elliot Morley: The Community Energy programme is a three-year £50 million UK-wide grant programme promoting community heating largely through the use of CHP. One of the aims of the programme is to help 100,000 people to heat their homes affordably. We hope that it will be possible to extend the programme beyond March 2005, but this is subject to resources being available.
	In the Energy White Paper we made a commitment to support field trials for micro-CHP. These trials, which are being conducted by the Carbon Trust, will help determine the fuel and carbon saving potential of micro-CHP in a range of applications. The results of the trials will help inform the development of any future support for the technology, including in fuel poor households.

Combined Heat and Power

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government's combined heat and power strategy will be published.

Elliot Morley: We intend publishing the Government's CHP Strategy to 2010 after the Easter Recess, to coincide with the first year review of the Energy White Paper.

Combined Heat and Power

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's progress in meeting its target to achieve 10GW of combined heat and power by 2010.

Elliot Morley: At the end of 2002, installed CHP capacity stood at 4,742MWe. More up to date data will become available when the annual Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) is published in the summer by DTI. The measures to support CHP announced in the Energy White Paper, taken together with the measures we have previously introduced and detailed in the draft CHP Strategy, will significantly help CHP. We will set out the full range of support measures in the Government's Strategy for CHP to 2010, which we intend to publish after the Easter Recess.

Combined Heat and Power

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what policies her Department has introduced since the publication of the Energy White Paper to encourage investor confidence in the combined heat and power sector; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Since last year's Energy White Paper we have been progressing delivery of the support measures for CHP set out therein. Before Christmas I set an ambitious target to source at least 15 per cent. of electricity for government use from Good Quality CHP by 2010. These Energy White Paper support measures, taken together with the measures we have previously introduced and detailed in the draft CHP Strategy, will significantly help CHP. We will set out the full range of support measures in the Government's Strategy for CHP to 2010, which we intend to publish after the Easter Recess.

Environmental Sustainability

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the change in costs to local authorities of the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003.

Elliot Morley: Local authorities are making significant changes in their waste management practices to meet their current Statutory Performance Standards for recycling and composting and in anticipation of legally binding requirements under the Landfill Directive to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled. It is too early to tell whether the requirements of the Household Waste Recycling Act will impose costs in excess of those being incurred to meet the aforementioned targets.

Environmental Sustainability

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with local government on local authority performance on waste recycling.

Elliot Morley: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has not held any specific discussions with local government on local authority waste recycling performance recently.
	I will follow up my predecessor's correspondence with local authorities whose progress towards meeting their recycling and composting targets was judged to be of most concern, once data on local authority recycling performance for 2003–04 are available, in summer 2004, and those failing to meet those targets have been identified.
	There is regular discussion on local authority waste management issues, including performance, between Defra and the Local Government Association (LGA) officials.

Environmental Sustainability

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of local authority performance on (a) waste recycling and (b) waste disposal.

Elliot Morley: In December 2003 the Audit Commission published information on local authorities waste and recycling performance as part of its Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPI) data for 2002–03. These data supplement local authorities own projections of their 2003–04 performance and provide an indication of local authorities movement towards their statutory performance standards. It suggests that England is within reach of its 2003–04 national target of 17 per cent.
	Local authorities actual performance for 2003–04 will be known when the BVPI figures are published in December 2004.
	The Waste Implementation Programme, as part of its approach to targeted support, is identifying those authorities facing barriers to improved performance and how these might be overcome.

Euratom Treaty (Inspection Visits)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Euratom Treaty Article 35 verification visits to (a) Sellafield and (b) Dounreay to take place; and if she will make a statement on the arrangements for these inspection visits.

Elliot Morley: The European Commission undertook an Article 35 verification visit to Sellafield from 8–12 March. We understand the Commission is contemplating a visit to Dounreay within the next year or so, but no date has been fixed.
	The arrangements for the Sellafield visit were made by the Department in co-operation with BNFL, the Environment Agency and the Food Standards Agency. The Scottish Executive would be responsible for the arrangements for a visit to Dounreay in co-operation with UKAEA, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and FSA.

Agricultural Support(Severely Disadvantaged Areas)

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the change in support which will result from the introduction of single farm payment to farmers in severely disadvantaged areas.

Alun Michael: Defra will publish shortly an analysis of the economic impact on the English farming industry of the decoupling of CAP direct payment and the decision to allocate entitlement on the basis set out in the Secretary of State's Statement to the House on 12 February.

Agricultural Support(Severely Disadvantaged Areas)

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the (a) severely disadvantaged areas and (b) number of farmers in each.

Alun Michael: The severely disadvantaged areas are those areas of land within less favourable areas of the UK, which are handicapped, principally by reason of high altitude, harsh climate, short growing season, low fertility, difficult topography or remoteness. The Severely Disadvantaged Areas are defined on an England basis and are as such treated as one entity. There are approximately 7,400 agricultural holdings wholly within the SDA and another 7,300 that straddle the boundary. The SDA are defined in statutory maps and in England lie within the following constituencies:
	Barnsley West and Penistone County Constituency
	Barrow and Furness County Constituency
	Berwick-Upon-Tweed County Constituency
	Bishop Auckland County Constituency
	Blackburn Borough Constituency
	Bolton North East Borough Constituency
	Bolton West County Constituency
	Bradford South Borough Constituency
	Bradford West Borough Constituency
	Bridgwater County Constituency
	Burnley Borough Constituency
	Burton County Constituency
	Bury North Borough Constituency
	Calder Valley County Constituency
	Chorley County Constituency
	City of Durham County Constituency
	Colne Valley County Constituency
	Copeland County Constituency
	Halifax Borough Constituency
	Hazel Grove County Constituency
	Hereford County Constituency
	Hexham County Constituency
	Heywood and Middleton County Constituency
	High Peak County Constituency
	Huddersfield Borough Constituency
	Hyndburn Borough Constituency
	Keighley County Constituency
	Lancaster and Wyre County Constituency
	Leominster County Constituency
	Ludlow County Constituency
	Macclesfield County Constituency
	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland County Constituency
	Morecambe and Lunesdale County Constituency
	North Cornwall County Constituency
	North Devon County Constituency
	North East Derbyshire County Constituency
	North Shropshire County Constituency
	North West Durham County Constituency
	Oldham East and Saddleworth County Constituency
	Pendle Borough Constituency
	Penrith and The Border County Constituency
	Pudsey Borough Constituency
	Ribble Valley County Constituency
	Richmond (Yorks) County Constituency
	Rochdale County Constituency
	Rossendale and Darwen Borough Constituency
	Ryedale County Constituency
	Scarborough and Whitby County Constituency
	Sheffield, Hallam County Constituency
	Sheffield, Hillsborough County Constituency
	Shipley County Constituency
	Shrewsbury and Atcham County Constituency
	Skipton and Ripon County Constituency
	South East Cornwall County Constituency
	South West Devon County Constituency
	St. Ives County Constituency
	Staffordshire Moorlands County Constituency
	Stalybridge and Hyde County Constituency
	Stone County Constituency
	Taunton County Constituency
	Teignbridge County Constituency
	Tiverton and Honiton County Constituency
	Torridge and West Devon County Constituency
	Totnes County Constituency
	Truro and St. Austell County Constituency
	Vale of York County Constituency
	Wakefield County Constituency
	West Derbyshire County Constituency
	Westmorland and Lonsdale County Constituency
	Workington County Constituency

Agricultural Support(Severely Disadvantaged Areas)

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is towards providing assistance to farmers in severely disadvantaged areas following the introduction of the single farm payment.

Alun Michael: Eligible farmers in severely disadvantaged areas will receive the single farm payment, and will continue to be eligible for other schemes such as the Hill Farm Allowance and the agri-environment schemes (which are currently being reviewed). The need for assistance to these or other areas will need to be re-examined in the context of the new EU Rural Development Regulation which will come into effect in 2007, and the changing needs of sustainable development in the uplands.

Agricultural Support(Severely Disadvantaged Areas)

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the financial cost would be of restricting single farm payment at the lower rate to farmers in the hill farm allowance area rather than to all farmers in the severely disadvantaged areas.

Alun Michael: The aggregate subsidy available for the single farm payment in England is not affected by the definition of the English regions for allocating entitlement.

Agricultural Support(Severely Disadvantaged Areas)

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will rescind her decision to pay single farm payment at a lower rate to all farmers in severely disadvantaged areas; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, made her decision in the best interests of the industry as a whole while recognising that there will be individual winners and losers.

Animal Welfare

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made (a) in the Council of Ministers and (b) to the European Commission to include the minimum values legislation in the proposed EU regulation on the protection of animals during transport; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Minimum values rules apply to certain types of working horses if they are exported for work and to ponies, but not to the majority of horses. It has been confirmed by the Commission in response to an Opposition MEP that such a restriction on the free movement of horses is unacceptable and this is consistent with our own legal advice and the understanding of horse welfare organisations in the UK. That is why we have instead developed an equivalent, welfare based alternative in collaboration with equine organisations. Our wishes have been included in the draft welfare in transport regulation, now before the Council of Agriculture Ministers. We have no intention of relaxing the application of the minimum values rules until the new arrangements are in place. It should be noted that they will have wider application to the welfare of horses within the United Kingdom and across Europe including the accession states.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) biosecurity and (b) other mechanisms are available to farmers to prevent badger damage to forage crops.

Ben Bradshaw: Electric fences provide the best defence against short-term seasonal damage to crops.
	Advice on using electric fences to protect crops is given in the Defra leaflet 'Badger problems: use of electric fencing to prevent agricultural damage' (TAN 15). This can be obtained from the Defra website (at: www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/leaflets.htm) or by contacting the National Wildlife Management Team (Tel: 0845 6014523, local rate).
	Additional detailed, technical information is available in the 'Electric Fence Reference Manual' (Research and Development Surveillance Report 607), which is also available to download from the Defra website.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated cash value of damage done to growing maize by badgers was in the last year for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no national estimate of the financial value of damage done to growing maize by badgers.
	A survey of badger damage to agricultural properties in England and Wales was conducted in 1997 based on 1,982 farmer questionnaire returns (out of a sample of 3,600 farmers).
	Crop damage was reported by 21 per cent. of respondents with wheat, forage maize and vines being damaged most frequently. 69 respondents reported badger damage to maize. The mean percentage of maize crops damaged, based on estimates provided by the respondents, was 5 per cent., with a maximum of 20 per cent. Reports of damage to maize were concentrated in August and September.
	Damage assessments of eight maize fields known to be used by badgers recorded an average of 114 unharvestable maize cobs per hectare. Forage maize crops protected by electric fencing sustained 96 per cent. less damage than unprotected crops (advice on electric fencing is given in the Defra leaflet TAN 15 'Badger problems: use of electric fencing to prevent agricultural damage', which is available from the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/leaflets.htm
	Moore N.P., Whiterow, A., Langton, S.D., Kelly, P.P., Garthwaite, D., Bishop, J.D. and Cheeseman, C.L. (1998) 'The Assessment of Badger Damage to Agriculture and Forestry'. Report to MAFF, Project VC 0318 .
	Moore N.P., Whiterow, A., Kelly, P.F., Garthwaite, D., Bishop, J.D., Langton, S.D. and Cheeseman, C.L. (1999) Survey of badger Meles meles damage to agriculture in England and Wales. Journal of Applied Ecology 36:974–988
	Poole, D., McKillop, G.I., Western, G., Hancocks, P., Packer, J. and Coombs, C. (1999) 'Effectiveness of an electric fence to reduce badger damage to field crops'. Report to MAFF.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reports her Department has received of predation by badgers on newly born lambs.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not keep a record of such reports. The only records kept relate to applications for licences under Section 10(2)(b) of the Protection of Badgers Act, 1992.
	Since April 2001, when computerised records were introduced, there have been four applications alleging lamb predation by badgers.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost is of undertaking the National Badger Survey; and from which departmental budget it is financed.

Ben Bradshaw: The most recent national badger survey, which was carried out in the mid-1990s 1 by scientists from the University of Bristol, was funded by The People's Trust for Endangered Species. The Trust is a Registered Charity (No. 274206).
	1 Details of the survey are published in "Changes in the British badger population", 1988 to 1997' by G. Wilson, S. Harris and G. McLaren (1997), published by the People's Trust for Endangered Species, London (ISBN 1 85580 018 7)

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence has been collated on localised effects on ground nesting bird populations of badger predation; and which localities have been affected.

Ben Bradshaw: Evidence has been gathered on the effect of badgers on ground nesting birds as part of a Defra funded project investigating the ecological consequences of badger removal. Some of this work has been conducted in treatment areas of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT). Evidence collated so far includes an exhaustive review of the published literature, and experimental field research using artificial bird nests. The results of these studies will be presented to Defra in March 2005.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether increased farm biosecurity in areas of high badger population (a) deprives badgers of a high value food source and (b) increases predation on other wildlife.

Ben Bradshaw: Cereal grains and many plant fibres pass through the badger's digestive system relatively unchanged, and may, therefore, often represent low-value food sources. Work by the Central Science Laboratory at Woodchester Park showed that badgers were significantly more likely to visit farm buildings, to exploit such foods, during periods of low rainfall when alternative natural food items such as earthworms were less available. Other mammals and birds form a relatively small part of the diet of badgers in the UK, and there is no evidence to suggest that increased farm biosecurity would result in increased badger predation on such wildlife.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to what extent badger groups are distinct entities; whether mixing occurs between social groups; and under what circumstances.

Ben Bradshaw: In much of Great Britain, badgers live in social groups within defined territories which the groups defend. However, mixing between groups is common. Individuals make foraging and breeding forays into neighbouring territories. Temporary and permanent dispersal from one group to another also occurs regularly. Details of movement rates at the Central Science Laboratory's Woodchester Park study area can be found in Rogers, L. M., Delahay, R. J., Cheeseman, C. L., Langton, S., Smith, G. C. and Clifton-Hadley, R. (1998) Movement of badgers ("Meles males") in a high density population: Individual, population and disease effects. "Proceedings of the Royal Society (Series B)", 265, 1269–1276.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to what extent and under what circumstances non-resident badgers will visit setts inhabited by social groups to which they do not belong; and whether this represents a significant opportunity for the spread of TB between badger social groups.

Ben Bradshaw: The most common reason for visits by badgers to setts within other social groups is likely to be breeding forays by males. This close contact between individuals from different groups is likely to represent an opportunity for the inter-group spread of TB.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from the (a) Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and (b) Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on the welfare of badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals contributed to the recent public consultation exercise on licensing under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 by my Department. The welfare of badgers was a central issue of this review.
	We are not aware of any other representations specifically concerned with badger welfare in recent years.
	(b) We have received no representations on badger welfare from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in recent years.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 10 December 2003, Official Report, column 523W, on badgers, what the scientific basis is of her view of the national impact of badgers on bird populations.

Ben Bradshaw: As I responded in my previous answer, badgers are known to predate on ground nesting birds. The impact of such predation at a national level is not quantified but is not thought to significantly affect populations nationally. As I have previously replied, Defra is currently funding research aimed at providing a scientifically vigorous assessment of the importance of badger predation on ground nesting birds. The Central Science Laboratory is due to report its findings in March 2005. Until that time I cannot give a definitive answer of the effect of badgers on ground nesting birds.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures can be taken to disinfect badger setts after the clearance of TB-infected inhabitants.

Ben Bradshaw: Although several methods have been discussed in the past, including bactericidal fumigants and napalm, there are no feasible measures to disinfect badger setts currently available. The size and complexity of sett structure, and the propensity of badgers to re-excavate setts soon after destruction, precludes the efficacy of any of these methods.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether specific TB spoligotypes are more prevalent in badgers than they are in (a) bovines and (b) other reservoirs.

Ben Bradshaw: As, in GB, only a very small proportion of the national badger population and an even smaller proportion of other wildlife species susceptible to bovine TB have been assessed by the spoligotyping technique, it is not possible to provide a meaningful comparison of specific TB spoligotyping prevalences for these three defined populations.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether instances of the detection of multiple TB spoligotypes in single herds have been reported to her Department.

Ben Bradshaw: There are many instances where more than one spoligotype has been isolated from a single herd during the same incident. A project (an integrated approach to the application of "Mycobacterium bovis genotyping" for the control of bovine tuberculosis in GB), funded by thee Department, is investigating such data sets; the project is due to end next September and the final report should be available shortly afterwards.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the reliability of the badger TB ELISA test in determining infection in individual badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: The indirect ELISA for badgers was evaluated using blood samples collected from 1982 badgers killed during statutory badger removal operations in 1991 to 1993. The sensitivity of the test was 40.7 per cent. and the specificity 94.3 per cent.. The positive predictive value (the percentage of positive test results where the animal was confirmed as infected) of the test was 67.5 per cent., the negative predictive value (the percentage of negative test results where the animal was confirmed as uninfected) 84.6 per cent.. A project (development of immunological assays for the detection of Mycobacterium bovis infection in badgers), funded by the Department, is investigating this area. The project is due to end in March 2005 and the final report should be available shortly afterwards.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) existing treatments for TB in (i) cattle and (ii) badgers and (b) the potential for developing new treatments.

Ben Bradshaw: Cattle which are suspected of being affected with tuberculosis must be slaughtered in accordance with the requirements of The Tuberculosis England and Wales Order 1984. Treatment of cattle affected with tuberculosis in cattle is prohibited by the same Order.
	If badgers are found in a debilitated condition, which may have been caused by tuberculosis, they may be humanely destroyed to prevent further suffering. There are no circumstances under which antibiotic treatment of badgers with clinical signs would be advisable.
	The possibility of vaccinating cattle or badgers to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis, is part of the wide ranging TB research programme being carried out by Defra.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to what extent the requirements for the development of BCG vaccination regimes for badgers have been satisifed.

Ben Bradshaw: Collaborative research with the Republic of Ireland has shown that parenteral BCG vaccination provides a degree of protection against experimental challenge with "Mycobacterium bovis" in badgers. Progress has also been made in developing immunological tests to detect tuberculosis infection in badgers. Work is under way to identify a feasible and appropriate strategy for delivery of BCG, probably in an oral formulation, to wildlife populations.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her best estimate is of how long it will take to develop a suitable badger vaccine to the point where field trials may be undertaken.

Ben Bradshaw: Over the next three-year period, it is proposed to carry out a field experiment to determine the impact of BCG on natural transmission of tuberculosis in badgers, and to optimise vaccine delivery strategies for wildlife. We will then be in a position to carry out a field trial of the impact of badger vaccination on herd breakdown. The size and duration of such a trial could be on a scale similar to that of the randomised badger culling trial.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether an application has been made for European Union funding to assist in the development of badger TB vaccines.

Ben Bradshaw: An application was submitted to the EU to support badger vaccination in 1995. The referees comments indicated that they considered this to be a problem restricted to UK and the Republic of Ireland and not of general benefit across member states.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the infective dose range for badgers in respect of M. bovis is in terms of the different portals of entry.

Ben Bradshaw: Post mortem examination of naturally infected wild badgers suggests the aerogenic route is the primary route of infection. Currently, experimental infection studies in the Republic of Ireland are underway which may provide information about infective dose via the endobronchial route.
	The other significant route of infection for wild badgers is via direct inoculation with infected saliva through bite wounding. The number of organisms required to establish tuberculosis via this route is unknown although previous experimental work showed that intradermal inoculation with approximately 1,000 organisms could result in generalised tuberculosis.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether bovine TB is a natural feature of the ecosystem inhabited by badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: Diseases are often natural components of ecosystems and, as such, may play an important role in ecological processes. Badgers, however, inhabit a largely artificial habitat consisting mainly of managed landscapes, particularly for pastoral agriculture. It is this close association with grazing cattle that may have first brought badgers into contact with bovine TB.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for how many years a breeding badger sow can excrete M. bovis bacilli; how many progeny a sow on average produces each year; and how many infected progeny a single female can produce in its lifetime.

Ben Bradshaw: Typically, an infected badger may excrete M. bovis bacilli for 12–15 months before death, although there are recorded cases of animals with TB living up to nine years. Litter size per sow varies from one to five with an average of three but, generally, only one or two sows per social group will breed each year. It cannot be assumed that an infected sow will infect all its progeny. Assuming, however, that a breeding sow gives birth each year, an animal excreting M. bovis for 12–15 months could, theoretically, produce between one and ten infected cubs. It should also be noted that 50 to 70 per cent. of cubs die within their first year.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 219W, on bovine TB, whether provision has been made for the changing values of individual cattle according to (a) market circumstances and (b) the status of animals; and whether farmers will be allowed constantly to update the values registered with her Department.

Ben Bradshaw: In a consultation document on the Rationalisation of Compensation for Notifiable Animal Diseases, issued on 24 October 2003, it was proposed that compensation would be payable according to table valuations based on market prices to be published monthly, although provision would be made for individual valuations by an approved valuer to be registered at any time before the issue of a notice of intention to slaughter.
	The responses to the consultation document are still being considered and no decisions have yet been taken.

Birds

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has collated on the effect of predator control on the sustainability of ground nesting bird populations.

Ben Bradshaw: Ground nesting birds can be predated on by a variety of other species. There have been relatively few studies of the effectiveness of removing predators to protect bird populations. A recent review of studies (Cote, I. M. and Sutherland, W.J. 1997, The effectiveness of removing predators to protect bird populations Conservation Biology 11: 395–405) concluded that the studies indicated that the removal of predators had a large, positive effect on the hatching success and post-breeding population sizes of target bird species but not on breeding population size, the effects on which varied considerably between studies. Whilst predator control may thus be a useful tool for game managers, it may not meet the requirements of those seeking to increase the size of bird breeding populations. Birds
	All wild birds are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and under Section 16 of the Act licences can be issued to allow certain birds to be controlled for the purposes of conserving wild birds or for the purposes of conserving flora and fauna. Defra currently issues a general licence to allow the control of certain species, such as those of the corvid family for this purpose.
	Mammals
	Mink may also predate certain ground nesting birds. Mink are not protected by domestic legislation and can thus be controlled on a year round basis.
	With regard to badgers I have already informed my hon. Friend that Defra is currently funding research aimed at providing a scientifically vigorous assessment of the importance of badger predation on ground nesting birds. The Central Science Laboratory is due to report its findings in March 2005. Until that time I cannot give a definitive answer of the effect of badgers on ground nesting birds.

Export Subsidies

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the Government's policy to eliminate all agricultural export subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The World Trade Organisation Doha Declaration commits all member countries to negotiations aimed at reductions, with a view to phasing out, all forms of agricultural export subsidies. The Government fully supports this commitment.

Farm Subsidies

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1149–51W, on single farm payments, what (a) assessment and (b) economic analyses were (i) conducted and (ii) completed (A) before and (B) after her statement to the House on 12 February 2004.

Alun Michael: Numerous economic analyses of the single farm payment have been undertaken over recent months and work is still on-going. These are being drawn together into a single comprehensive document which will be made available shortly.

GM Crops

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to refuse permission for the planting of GM crops in the UK until after (a) a co-existence regime to prevent contamination of non-GM crops and (b) a liability regime to determine who must pay damages for harm caused by GM crops has been approved by both Houses of Parliament.

Elliot Morley: The Government have been considering the report on these issues by the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission and we will set out our thinking shortly.

GM Crops

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ensure that new scientific evidence from Norway on the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus promoter is taken into account before a decision is taken on the seed listing of Chardon LL fodder maize.

Elliot Morley: The reported new scientific evidence from Norway on the cauliflower mosaic virus promoter has yet to be published. When the details of this research do become available, the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE), which advises the Government on the risks posed by the intentional release of GMOs, will be asked to evaluate these data and advise on their implications for existing consents and future applications.

GM Crops

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she was informed that (a) the transgenic insert used in Chardon LL is unstable and (b) the variety would be incapable of passing the distinctiveness, uniformity and stability test under Directive 2001/18/EC.

Elliot Morley: Chardon LL is a variety of the genetically modified maize known as T25. I understand that the Belgian Competent Authority under Directive 2001/18/EC has published an analysis of the structure of the transgenic insert in GM maize T25 and that this was considered by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) at their meeting on 22 January 2004. ACRE advised that they needed to see the full detail of the Belgian reassessment before coming to a final view and this has been requested from the Belgian Competent Authority. However, their preliminary analysis was that the work did not necessarily indicate instability of the insert, but consisted of additional information available now due to recent improvements in methods for the analysis of transformation events.
	The requirement for distinctness, uniformity and stability testing falls under Directive 2002/53/EC and not 2001/18/EC. Chardon LL underwent such testing in France, according to internationally recognised methods and the protocol adopted by the Community Plant Variety Office, as required by the EU legislation. Chardon LL was found to be distinct, uniform and stable by the French testing authorities.

GM Crops

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of the Chardon LL feeding trial involving broiler chickens in relation to the health and safety of GMHT fodder maize.

Elliot Morley: The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) and the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF) carried out a comprehensive review of the risks posed by the marketing and use of Bayer GM maize T25 (Chardon LL) in response to concerns raised in the Chardon LL public hearing on seed listing. Their advice was published in December 2002. The Committees concluded that there is no evidence from the broiler chicken feeding study that suggests that T25 maize grain fed to animals would pose an increased risk compared with conventional maize grain. However, ACRE advised that the raw data from the chicken feeding study should be re-analysed to maximise its value/power in comparing the nutritional value of T25 maize grain with that of a non-GM counterpart. The results of this further analysis did not alter the conclusion about the risk posed by this GM maize but slightly increased the power of the study in the extent to which it can resolve any differences between chickens fed GM maize grain and those fed non-GM maize grain. For more detailed comments please refer to ACRE'S advice on Chardon LL maize at http://defra.gov.uk/environment/acre/advice/advice20d.htm, this is also available in the parliamentary Library.

GM Crops

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has communicated the shortcomings of the farm-scale evaluation maize trials to the lead competent authority in France, as required by Directive 2001/18/EC; and whether she has requested a variation in the conditions attached to the Part C consent for Chardon LL fodder maize.

Elliot Morley: I am not aware of any shortcomings of the farm-scale evaluation (FSE) maize trials, the results have been endorsed by both the Scientific Steering Committee overseeing the evaluations and the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). Officials sent the results of the Farm Scale Evaluations, together with the non-specialist and scientific summaries, to the European Commission and the Competent Authorities of the member states for their information on 20 and 21 October 2003. ACRE published its advice on the FSE results on 13 January 2004, and this advice was also sent to the Commission and the Competent Authorities on that date. On 9 March 2004 officials wrote to the French Competent Authority, which issued the relevant consent on behalf of all EU member states, seeking amendments to the consent for Bayer T25 GM maize (Chardon LL) to limit herbicide use with the crop in line with ACRE'S advice.

GM Crops

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she was informed that the dry matter content for Chardon LL averages 27.3 per cent.

Elliot Morley: The Secretary of State was made aware in March 2003 of a range of issues raised in the public hearing on Chardon, including its dry matter content. The lower than average dry matter content in the performance trials was taken into account, but the conclusion on overall value for cultivation and use rightly took the other important characteristics into consideration. These included better than average dry matter yield, early vigour and resistance to lodging.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her oral statement to the House of 9 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1381–96, on GM policy, what discussions she has had with biotechnology companies; and what timetable she has set for the establishment of a compensation scheme for farmers and growers adversely affected by the growing of GM crops.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 16 March 2004
	We have said that we will consult stakeholders on options for providing compensation to non-GM farmers who suffer financially through no fault of their own. Until that consultation exercise has been completed it is too soon to say what the outcome might be. We will consult on this and the co-existence issue as soon as possible. Clearly, discussions with the biotechnology companies will be a necessary part of the consultation process.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her oral statement to the House of 9 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1381–96, on GM policy, what support she will give to (a) areas, (b) zones, (c) local authorities, (d) regions and (e) nations which are seeking to achieve GM free status; and what discussions she plans to have with her counterparts in EU member states to assist in clarifying the (i) powers and (ii) responsibilities of places which seek to declare such status.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 16 March 2004
	This issue has already been discussed within the EU. It is clear that under EU law it is not possible to impose blanket GM-free status on a compulsory or statutory basis at any geographic level. The Government is not seeking to promote GM-free status, but we have said that we will provide guidance to farmers who may want to establish voluntary zones in which GM crops are not cultivated.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her oral statement to the House of 9 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1381–96, on GM policy, what rules she plans to put in place in the coming months.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 16 March 2004
	As the statement confirmed, we envisage that measures to facilitate the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops will be in place before any commercial GM cultivation. Our intention is that GM producers should observe a code of practice on co-existence which has statutory backing, based on the 0.9 per cent. EU labelling threshold for adventitious GM presence. We will consult in due course on the details of this, on whether a lower GM threshold might apply for organic production, and on options for compensating non-GM farmers who suffer financially because a GM presence exceeds statutory thresholds.

Nappies

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how her Department is working to make new parents aware of the environmental implications of using disposable nappies.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 9 March 2004
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme has a waste minimisation programme which includes work to ensure parents are given sufficient information to make an informed choice on whether to use re-usable or disposable nappies. This involves, among other things, the employment of a health professional to undertake work in maternity units.
	The Environment Agency is undertaking a Life Cycle Analysis to assess the environmental impacts of both re-usable and disposable nappies. The aim is to publish this in the spring.

Radioactive Waste

Jack Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with (a) the Scottish Executive, (b) the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and (c) the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority about proposals by the latter to transfer low level radioactive waste from Dounreay to Drigg; why the application for a licence was not advertised in England; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  whether she has agreed to proposals by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to transfer radioactive waste from Dounreay to Drigg in Cumbria.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 15 March 2004
	The Secretary of State has not had discussions with the Scottish Executive, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) or the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) about these proposals.
	The low-level radioactive waste (LLW) disposal site at Drigg in Cumbria is owned by BNFL and is operated by the company on a commercial basis as a United Kingdom facility. BNFL hold an authorisation from the Environment Agency to dispose of LLW at Drigg. I understand that the proposed transfer of waste from Dounreay to Drigg could be accommodated within BNFL's existing authorisation for the site. I also understand that the consultation arrangements adopted in this case were consistent with those for other such transfers to Drigg from sites throughout the United Kingdom. It was not, therefore, considered necessary by the regulators to advertise this application in England.
	I understand from the Environment Agency that they intend to carry out a comprehensive review of BNFL's authorisation for Drigg later this year. As part of this review, full public consultations will be undertaken.
	The application by UKAEA to transfer LLW to Drigg has been made to SEPA, whose responsibility it is to determine the application under the provisions of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993, subject to the powers of Scottish Ministers. Given that Drigg is operated as a United Kingdom facility and that its existing authorisation is sufficient to cover the proposed transfer, it is not necessary for the Secretary of State to be involved in determining UKAEA's current application.

Slaughtered Stock (Compensation)

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the cumulative savings that her Department will achieve over financial years 2003–04 to 2012–13 by changing the basis on which compensation is paid to farmers for animals slaughtered.

Ben Bradshaw: The responses to the consultation document on the Rationalisation of Compensation for Notifiable Animal Diseases are still being considered and no decisions have yet been taken. It is therefore too early to determine whether any savings will be made.

Radon Gas

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what proportion of UK housing stock has been tested for radon gas;
	(2)  how many houses have been tested for radon gas in each of the last seven years;
	(3)  what plans she has to encourage the testing of the remainder of UK housing stock for radon gas.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 March 2004
	Since 1987 successive Governments have run a radon measurement programme to identify the extent of the radon problem in the UK. During that time 450 thousand of the 25 million UK homes have been tested. Over the last eight years Government-funded measurement programmes have mainly focused on homes likely to be at most risk. In England and Northern Ireland, for example, that has meant every home with a greater than 5 per cent. probability of radon levels being at or above the National Radiological Protection Board's (NRPB) recommended radon "Action Level" (200 becquerels per cubic metre of air) has been offered a free radon test. In accordance with NRPB's recommendation, we advise that remedial action is taken to reduce radon levels in any home at or above the Action Level. It is estimated that over 100,000 homes in the UK are likely to be at or above the Action Level and, of those, around 43,000 have been found. Approximately 90 per cent. of the homes above the Action Level are likely to be in England.
	The following table sets out the number of homes tested by NRPB for radon gas in the UK since 1996 up to the present date. The figures from 1998 onwards include radon tests that have been offered to householders as part of pilot studies and a wider on-going programme where the Government are working in partnership with nearly 30 local authorities in England to help householders in radon-affected areas to take action to cut levels of radon in their homes. This supports the Government's policy of encouraging more radon remediation amongst householders in order to reduce the risk that high radon levels pose to their health. The pilot studies run between 1998 and 2000 showed that working at a local level worked well and could double the amount of radon remediation. This success led to the rolling out of the current programme based on the experiences and lessons learned from the pilot studies. We shall be reviewing the initiative before it ends in March 2005 to allow us to determine how successful it has been. We will then make a judgment on the future direction of the Government's radon programme.
	In Northern Ireland, the Department of the Environment is continuing to make free radon tests available to householders in areas where radon concentrations in homes have a 1 per cent. or greater probability of being at or above the Action Level. In addition, radon awareness campaigns will be conducted in selected areas of Northern Ireland in partnership with local authorities. These will target areas where there is a greater than 10 per cent. probability of radon levels in a home exceeding the Action Level.
	Plans to encourage the testing of dwellings for radon in Scotland and Wales rest with the Scottish Executive and National Assembly for Wales respectively.
	
		
			  Number of Tests 
		
		
			 1996 70,500 
			 1997 54,000 
			 1998 25,800 
			 1999 9,600 
			 2000 6,800 
			 2001 8,000 
			 2002 10,000 
			 2003(1) 11,100 
			 2004(1) 14,100 
		
	
	(1) All the Government-funded tests have used detectors that need to be in place for 3 months. Some tests in 2003 and all those so far commenced in the first two months of 2004 are therefore still to be completed.
	Note:
	Totals rounded to three significant figures.

Sakhalin Oil and Gas Project

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultation has been undertaken by her Department and the Export Credits Guarantee Department on the Sakhalin II phase 2 oil and gas project in relation to its potential impacts upon the Western Gray Whale.

Elliot Morley: I have discussed the Sakhalin II project, particularly in relation to its potential impacts upon the Western Gray Whale population, with the Minister for Trade and Investment, Mike O'Brien.
	The Export Credit Guarantee Department has consulted with the Sakhalin Energy Group at all stages of the project application. In addition, ECGD officials have met and corresponded with a range of stakeholders and NGO's from both Sakhalin and the UK. Defra has been kept informed of these consultations.

Voles/Hedgehogs

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated population was of (a) voles and (b) hedgehogs in Great Britain in 1990; and what the current estimate of the population is.

Ben Bradshaw: Very few data are available on national populations of many mammal species, including voles and hedgehogs. Perhaps the best recent estimates are those made in a publication by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee in 1995 1 . At that time they made the following estimates:
	
		
			 Species GB population estimate Reliability of estimate Changing status 
		
		
			 Field vole 75,000,000 Low Possible decline 
			 Bank vole 23,000,000 Within 50 per cent. Probably stable 
			 Hedgehog 1,555,000 Low Possible decline 
		
	
	Since that time, no further national population estimates have been published for these species.
	The Tracking Mammals Partnership has now been set up to instigate long-term monitoring of all mammal species, but this will focus on detecting trends rather than estimating absolute abundance (www.jncc.gov.uk/species/mammals/trackingmammals).
	1 A review of British mammals: Population estimates and conservation status of British mammals other than cetaceans by Stephen Harris, Pat Morris, Stephanie Wray and Derek Yalden (1995) JNCC, Peterborough (ISBN 1573701683).

TRANSPORT

Channel Tunnel

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the operators of the Channel Tunnel rail services; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Officials hold regular meetings with parties involved in the Channel Tunnel industry to discuss a range of issues.

Disciplinary/Grievance Procedures

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether each agency in the Department for Transport has disciplinary procedures which comply with (a) the ACAS handbook on discipline and grievances at work and (b) the ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.

Tony McNulty: The disciplinary procedures used in the Department for Transport and its Agencies are considered to be compliant with both the ACAS Handbook and Code of Practice. However it is planned to review the procedures to ensure compliance with the revised ACAS Code of Practice that takes effect from 1 October 2004.

Employment Tribunals

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been spent (a) settling and (b) contesting claims registered at employment tribunals since the beginning of 2003 in the Department for Transport for (i) race discrimination, (ii) sex discrimination, (iii) disability discrimination, (iv) unfair dismissal and (v) equal pay.

Tony McNulty: In 2003 the Department for Transport (excluding Executive Agencies) was the Respondent in the following Employment Tribunal cases:
	Equal Pay—10 cases—the total cost of these cases was £44,244.78 made up of Treasury Solicitors and Counsels costs;
	Disability Discrimination—1 case—total costs £3,350 made up of Treasury Solicitors costs only;
	Race Discrimination—3 cases (with 2 originating from the same applicant)—total costs £16,220.73 made up of Treasury Solicitors and Counsels fees.
	In addition to legal fees and disbursements the Central Department paid out a total of £16,727 in settlement costs.
	There were no claims for unfair dismissal.

Infrastructure Improvement

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the transport infrastructure improvement schemes for which he is responsible in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough; and what their projected cost is.

Tony McNulty: Most transport infrastructure improvement schemes in London are now the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL). Those for which the Secretary of State retains some responsibility are:
	Crossrail:
	The Government received Cross London Rail Link Limited's (CLRL) Crossrail Business Case in July 2003. We are supportive of the principle of a Crossrail scheme to increase transport capacity across London. But we need to be sure that the current proposals are deliverable, affordable and value for money.
	This is why the Secretary of State announced a review of CLRL's proposals, by an expert team under the chairmanship of Adrian Montague. He has now received advice from Adrian Montague which he is studying closely.
	Channel Tunnel Rail Link Section 2:
	Running from Ebbsfleet in Kent to St. Pancras station, construction of Section 2 began in July 2001. It is broadly on budget and is expected to have cost £3.3 billion when it opens in 2007. Section 2 is currently over 60 per cent. complete.
	Additionally Network Rail and the Strategic Rail Authority are progressing the West Coast Route Modernisation, part of which is within Greater London, at a cost of some £7.5 billion. Other schemes in the wider South-east which impact on parts of London are the replacement of Mark I rolling stock (£1 billion), and the power supply upgrade in the Southern region (£2 billion).
	Within London planned schemes include Thameslink 2000 with a projected cost of some £3 billion and the East London Line Extensions scheme, with an estimated cost of about £1 billion, together with the freight gauge enhancement on the North London line (£40 million). The Strategic Rail Authority have also been a partner in the launch of the "Overground Network" with Transport for London, involving branding and customer information enhancements at 40 south London stations at a total cost of £1.5 million. There are also a number of smaller scale improvements being taken forward via the Rail Passenger Partnerships (RPP) fund.
	With the exception of one RPP scheme (Brentford station improvement), none of the schemes mentioned falls within a single London borough.

Motorised Scooters

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce requirements for (a) eyesight tests, (b) a road test and road awareness programme, (c) a requirement to have insurance, (d) a set maintenance standard and (e) training and testing, for people wishing to drive motorised scooters and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Motorised scooters are motor vehicles within the meaning of Section 185 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and are therefore already subject to road traffic law. To be used on the road they must comply with construction regulations and meet registration, road tax, insurance and MOT testing requirements. The rider is required to hold an appropriate driver licence and wear a suitable motorcycle helmet.
	This does not apply to Class 2 and 3 Invalid Carriages which are defined as "not being a motor vehicle" for certain parts of Road Traffic Law. We believe that most users of these vehicles operate them safely but a review of the law is needed. The review is due to be completed during the summer. Decisions will then be taken about whether any changes are required to the law.

Steer Davies Gleave

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts, and of what value, the Strategic Rail Authority has placed with Steer Davies Gleave in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The information is provided in the following table.
	
		£ thousand
		
			  Number of contracts(2) Total value(3) 
		
		
			 1999 (4)1 48 
			 2000 — — 
			 2001 — — 
			 2002 3 214 
			 2003 12 1,184 
		
	
	(2) With a value of over £25,000
	(3) Rounded
	(4) Contract let by Office of Passenger Rail Franchising

Stress

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many days have been lost owing to stress in (a) the Department for Transport and (b) Transec Division.

Tony McNulty: In 2003 for the centre of the Department for Transport (excluding the Executive Agencies) 2,206 days were recorded with 'stress/anxiety/depression' given as the reason for absence. For Transport Security Directorate, 349 days were recorded under this heading during 2003.

Travel Costs

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the change in costs of travelling by (a) car, (b) train and (c) bus in each year since 1974, taking 1974 as a base figure of 100, and discounting inflation.

Tony McNulty: The following table shows the information requested on real changes in the cost of transport as indices based on 1974=100. The information is available in Transport Statistics Great Britain, although the current edition does not include 2003 data and is based to 1992=100.
	
		
			  All motoring(5) Rail Bus 
		
		
			 1974 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 1975 104.4 109.2 104.9 
			 1976 101.2 124.3 114.9 
			 1977 99.9 125.0 114.1 
			 1978 99.7 132.0 119.4 
			 1979 104.0 128.8 118.4 
			 1980 103.8 135.6 127.0 
			 1981 103.9 138.6 125.6 
			 1982 101.0 146.5 133.3 
			 1983 103.2 148.5 134.7 
			 1984 100.7 142.0 131.1 
			 1985 99.4 142.4 128.9 
			 1986 94.7 147.0 135.2 
			 1987 96.3 148.4 137.4 
			 1988 95.9 151.3 140.1 
			 1989 93.9 153.2 140.2 
			 1990 91.0 152.2 135.1 
			 1991 92.3 158.8 145.5 
			 1992 95.0 164.2 150.2 
			 1993 97.6 173.0 154.3 
			 1994 98.5 176.3 154.6 
			 1995 97.0 178.1 155.0 
			 1996 97.5 180.3 156.9 
			 1997 99.6 178.9 157.6 
			 1998 99.3 180.1 157.3 
			 1999 100.2 183.8 160.6 
			 2000 101.0 181.6 162.3 
			 2001 98.7 185.3 166.1 
			 2002 96.3 186.5 168.5 
			 2003 94.8 184.3 170.6 
		
	
	(5) "All motoring" includes the cost of purchase, maintenance, fuel, tax and insurance
	Source:
	Retail Price Index, Office for National Statistics

Way to Go Campaign

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress with the Way to Go campaign.

Tony McNulty: The Government are committed to developing a modern, efficient and sustainable transport system fit for the 21st century. The Way to Go campaign raises a number of important issues about how our transport system can better serve people's needs. Many of the transport schemes being implemented across the country are those advocated by the Way to Go campaign. Our plans will deliver over £180 billion of public and private money across all forms of transport over the 10 years to 2010, a 45 per cent. real terms increase over the previous decade.

PRIME MINISTER

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is in respect of providing substantive answers to written parliamentary questions where he concludes that to provide such answers would be detrimental to the work of Government.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave him on 2 March 2004, Official Report, column 849W.

United Nations Charter

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has for reform of the United Nations Charter to allow the United Nations greater rights (a) to intervene within the territory of member states and (b) otherwise to override their sovereignty.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith) on 15 March 2004, Official Report, column 38W.

SCOTLAND

Climate Change

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what conclusions he has drawn for Scotland from the writings of the Government Chief Scientist on climate change.

Anne McGuire: The Government Chief Scientist's article in the journal Science in January 2004 concluded that the evidence for man-made climate change was convincing and could not be ignored. The Government shares that view, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in reply to my hon. Friend on 11 March 2004, Official Report, column 1655W.
	The Government are committed to making significant reductions in emissions of the greenhouse gases which cause man-made climate change. The UK Climate Change Programme sets out a number of measures to reduce such emissions; the UK programme includes the Scottish Executive's Climate Change Programme.

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff are employed in the Department to work in the communications field, broken down by (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office employs three press officers, one of whom is part time, who are current members of the Government Information and Communications Service. The office also has one special adviser. The Special Adviser's Code of Conduct sets out the sort of work a special adviser may undertake on behalf of their Minister. This includes communications activity. No other staff are employed in the communications field.

Departmental Officials

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which former officials of the Department have asked for permission to join (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG.

Anne McGuire: No former officials of the Scotland Office have asked for permission to join these organisations.

Secondments

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what secondments (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG have made to his Department since 2001; for what (i) periods and (ii) tasks the secondments were made; whether secondments of staff from his Department have been made to those firms; and for what (A) periods and (B) tasks.

Anne McGuire: No secondments have been made between the Scotland Office and these organisations.

Temporary Staff

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff the Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; what percentage this is of total staff employed; and how much the Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04 to the most recent date for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office currently employs two temporary staff. This comprises 2.3 per cent. of total staff employed.
	Details of payments to employment agencies for temporary staff are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001–02 75,392 
			 2002–03 78,539 
			 2003–04 (6)59,991 
		
	
	(6) To end February 2004.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Belfast Agreement

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of the current talks about the future of the Belfast agreement.

John Spellar: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said last week, after the St. Patrick's Day break the two Governments will be seeking to inject fresh momentum into the dialogue between the political parties, with a view to securing early movement on an end to paramilitarism and the return of devolved government. The Prime Minister and the Taoiseach will visit Northern Ireland next Tuesday for discussions with the parties.

Devolution

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had on the restoration of devolution in the Province.

John Spellar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave previously to the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter).

Decommissioning

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on arms decommissioning.

Jane Kennedy: Four acts of decommissioning have taken place to date—one carried out by the LVF and three by PIRA. The latest decommission act occurred on 21 October 2003 in which the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning confirmed they witnessed a third event in which IRA weapons were put beyond use. The quantity of arms involved was larger than the quantity put beyond use in the previous event.

Employment (Strangford)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on job prospects in Strangford.

Ian Pearson: Residents based claimant rates indicate that in January 2004 unemployment in the Strangford constituency stood at 3.6 per cent. However, the hon. Lady will be aware of the recent announcement locally that TKECC is to close with the loss of 550 jobs. Invest NIs Local Office team is working with other Government Departments to facilitate retraining and other employment-related options for the work force. Since April 2002 Invest NI has offered client companies in the constituency over £3 million assistance towards investment of over £12 million. In addition it has supported 270 business start-ups and continues to work in close partnership with the local councils in support of their economic development activities.

Higher Education

Iain Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the expansion of higher education in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: Since 1999 there has been an increase of over 4,000 in the number of full time equivalent student places in Northern Ireland. This year we will be increasing provision by an additional 330 places and are also considering a substantial increase in places on specialist medical and social working training courses.

Economy

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the development of the Northern Ireland economy since the Good Friday agreement.

Ian Pearson: Since the Good Friday agreement was signed, the number of employee jobs has reached record levels, increasing by 61,550 from March 1998 to December 2003. Claimant count unemployment at 4.1 per cent. of the work force is at its lowest rate since the mid 1970s and growth in Gross Value Added of 13 per cent. between 1998 and 2001 makes Northern Ireland one of the fastest growing UK regions.

Burns Report

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he has made in implementing the recommendations of the Burns report on post-primary education; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Following extensive consultation on the Burns report, I established the Post-Primary Review Working Group to consider the responses to the consultation and provide advice about future post-primary arrangements. On 26 January 2004, I announced that I had accepted the Working Group's recommendations, and work has started on implementing these recommendations.

Ambulance Drivers

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what legislation or regulations prevent diabetes sufferers from serving as ambulance drivers in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (as amended) prescribes insulin-dependent diabetes as a relevant disability in respect of the issue of Group 2 licences (i.e. those that authorise the driving of passenger carrying vehicles and large goods vehicles).
	In light of this, and in accordance with Article 9(3) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (as amended) the Department of the Environment must not grant such a licence to a person who suffers from such a disability.
	In addition, it is the opinion of The Secretary of State for Transport's Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Diabetes that drivers with insulin-treated diabetes should not drive emergency vehicles
	A person whose diabetes is treated by diet alone or by diet and tablets are allowed to hold such a licence provided they are otherwise in good health.
	In order to be employed as an Ambulance person within Northern Ireland Ambulance Service there is an essential requirement to hold a full and clean driving licence, which includes Categories C1 (to drive minibuses) and Dl (to drive vehicles over 3½ tonnes).
	In the past where it has come to the attention of the NI Ambulance Service that an employee has developed diabetes, it has redeployed the employee from driving duties.

Avian Influenza

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what precautions have been taken to counter an outbreak of avian influenza in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: Following the introduction of EU restrictions on imports of poultry meat and poultry products from Thailand on 23 January, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), as a precautionary measure, suspended all imports of live poultry, poultry meat products, captive birds, pet birds and eggs for human consumption from Asian countries most affected by avian influenza. Equivalent action was also taken following a further outbreak of avian influenza in the USA in February and the same action is currently under way for the outbreak in Canada.
	As regards the animal health aspects, DARD has a contingency plan for dealing with an outbreak of avian influenza, which has been approved by the EU. This plan is currently being reviewed and updated to ensure that any outbreak could be dealt with quickly and effectively. Advice regarding biosecurity has been re-issued to the poultry industry and is available on the DARD website.
	As regards the human health aspects, the Department of Health and Public Safety (DHSSPS) in conjunction with DARD and other UK Health Departments, is continuing to monitor international developments in relation to the transmission of avian influenza to humans. DHSSPS has placed information for travellers on their website and has been working with DARD and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland to ensure protection of poultry workers.

Belfast City Airport

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the outcome of his Department's meeting with representatives of Belfast City Airport on 10 March.

Angela Smith: The purpose of the meeting was to clarify the City Airport's request for a review of the existing Planning Agreement, to determine the issues involved in such a review and to discuss a possible way forward.
	The City Airport representatives have agreed to submit details of their proposals and their possible implications for the current Planning Agreement to the Planning Service, probably within two months. A further meeting will then be arranged.

Birth Statistics

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many birth defects there were in Northern Ireland in each year since 1999.

Angela Smith: Information on all birth defects is not available. However, information is collected by the Chief Medical Officer on the number of children born each year suffering from a number of selected congenital malformations in Northern Ireland. This information for the years 1999 to 2003 is as follows.
	
		Number of Selected Congenital Malformations, 1999 to 2003
		
			  Anencephalus Hydrocephalus Spina Bifida Downs Syndrome 
		
		
			 1999 5 13 8 27 
			 2000 0 13 9 32 
			 2001 5 11 13 36 
			 2002(7) 6 9 9 34 
			 2003(7) 3 6 12 32 
		
	
	(7) Figures not yet published by CMO.
	Source:
	Northern Ireland Child Health System

Ceasefire Breaches

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 2 March 2004, Official Report, column 836W, on ceasefire breaches, what criteria he uses to assess whether there has been a breach of a ceasefire by a paramilitary group; and how many times since January these criteria have been met by the actions of the (a) Provisional IRA, (b) UDA and (c) UVF.

Jane Kennedy: Section 3(9) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 sets out the criteria which the Secretary of State takes account of in making a judgement on the status of a ceasefire. The Secretary of State makes a judgement in the round. The ceasefires of the Provisional IRA and the UVF are recognised, the ceasefire of the UDA is not.

Citizenship Ceremonies

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether citizenship ceremonies taking place in Northern Ireland will follow exactly the same format as in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Jane Kennedy: The Home Office has set out a basic format for a citizenship ceremony but they will vary from place to place throughout the United Kingdom, both to account for numbers of applicants and the incorporation of local features.
	In Northern Ireland, the ceremonies will be held in Hillsborough Castle and will be conducted by a Lord Lieutenant. The format of the ceremonies in Northern Ireland will be an introduction and welcome speech by the Lord Lieutenant. The new citizens will then take an oath and pledge—the only parts of the ceremony which are mandatory throughout the UK. Following this, the Lord Lieutenant will present each of the applicants with their certificate of citizenship. There will then be a short congratulatory speech and the ceremony will end with the playing of the national anthem.

Civil Contingencies Bill

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with his colleagues in the Cabinet Office in relation to the Civil Contingencies Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: There has been regular contact, both at Ministerial and official level, with Cabinet Office and other colleagues in relation to the Civil Contingencies Bill. The Bill will place civil protection on a modern, statutory footing and, together with associated administrative arrangements, will provide a uniform level of protection throughout the United Kingdom.

Civil Service

Seamus Mallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many posts in the Northern Ireland Civil Service of the grade equivalent to that of the post of audit manager for the Northern Ireland Court Service as advertised in competition PB/1/04 advertised in each of the last five years (a) have and (b) have not been reserved.

Ian Pearson: Nine competitions to fill posts at this level were advertised as follows.
	
		
			  Competitions 
		
		
			 1999–2000 1 
			 2000–01 1 
			 2001–02 4 
			 2002–03 2 
			 2003–04 1 
		
	
	The competitions were advertised on the basis that none of the posts were reserved for UK nationals.

Costello Report

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the (a) meetings and (b) discussions he has with (i) school principals and (ii) other interested parties since the publication of the Costello Report.

Jane Kennedy: Since the publication of the Costello Report, I have met with representatives of the UUP, DUP, SDLP, Sinn Fein, the Alliance Party and the Governing Bodies Association. I have received a request for a meeting with representatives of the Catholic Bishops of Northern Ireland and I hope to meet with them in the very near future. Officials have been involved in discussions with members of the Association of Head Teachers in Secondary Schools and with post-primary school principals in the Belfast and Southern Education and Library Boards and shortly with those in the South Eastern Education and Library Board.

Dental Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to facilitate urgent dental procedures in children with special needs.

Angela Smith: The Department has been in discussion with the Belfast Dental Hospital (Royal Group of Hospitals Trust) and the Community Dental Service to urge identification of spare theatre capacity outside of the Royal site to facilitate treatment for children with special needs.
	A working group has also been set up to look at the development and long-term planning for the delivery of dental treatment to children with special needs, and the issues of dental treatment for children and adults with special needs will be addressed within the new Oral Health Strategy which is currently under consideration.

Dental Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to ensure that young adults with complex medical needs have equality of access to dental care.

Angela Smith: The Chief Dental Officer has set up a working group to look at future development of dental services for young adults with complex medical needs. The group is chaired by the Dental Director of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board and draws together both medical and dental staff involved in the care of these people.
	In addition the Chief Dental Officer is undertaking a new Oral Health Strategy (OHS) for Northern Ireland which will address the needs of the learning disabled and medically compromised children and adults.

Dental Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on availability of dental services for young people aged 14 years and above with complex medical needs.

Angela Smith: Dental services for young people over the age of 14 years who have complex medical needs are under considerable pressure at the moment. Currently there is only one consultant and one associate specialist in special needs at the Belfast Dental Hospital. They also provide services at outreach clinics throughout Northern Ireland. Most of these patients require their dental treatment carried out under general anaesthesia on an acute hospital site. A shortage of medical consultant anaesthetists and appropriate facilities have also increased the pressure on services over the past couple of years. Efforts are being made at present to address these difficulties.

Dental Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the withdrawal of dental services for young people at Muckamore Abbey Hospital.

Angela Smith: There was a reduction of dental services for young people at Muckamore Abbey Hospital following a review of the use of general anaesthesia and conscious sedation in primary dental care by the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Dental Officer of the NHS in England.
	The report and subsequent guidelines issued in July 2000 effectively limited the use of general anaesthesia to acute hospitals in the interests of patient safety. General anaesthetic sessions at Muckamore Abbey Hospital ceased in December 2000, although routine dental treatment continues to be provided there.

Disability Discrimination

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he plans to tackle discrimination against people with disabilities in the areas of (a) transport and (b) access to public buildings.

John Spellar: The information is as follows:
	(a) A number of measures in relation to transport will extend protection for people with disabilities. The Department of the Environment intends to begin consultation in May 2004 on proposals to implement the UK Government's commitment on making (public hire) taxis accessible to people with disabilities. The Department also intends to extend provisions relating to the carrying of guide dogs, hearing dogs and other prescribed categories of dogs to licensed drivers of private hire vehicles in mid 2004.
	The Northern Ireland Executive agreed in principle to proceed to the removal of the transport exemption from Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) in Northern Ireland. It is proposed to issue a Northern Ireland consultation document by May 2004 on the removal of the exemption based on the consultation by the Department for Transport in Great Britain. It is also planned to amend Part V of the DDA in respect of Northern Ireland by taking powers to amend the rail Vehicle Accessibility (NI) Regulations 2001.
	(b) Additional duties on service providers will come into effect on 1 October 2004. This is the last of three stages placing duties on service providers to help eliminate discrimination in the area of access to services for disabled people and means that service providers may have to make other "reasonable adjustments" in relation to the physical features of their premises to overcome physical barriers to access.

Drug Seizures

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what quantities of hard drugs were seized by (a) the police, (b) Customs and Excise and (c) other agencies in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The amounts of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy seized by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, and the Northern Ireland Prison Service are detailed in the following tables.
	Customs efforts to protect Northern Ireland from drugs cannot be measured solely on results in Northern Ireland itself. In 2002–03, Customs took out 11,549 kilos of Class A drugs, targeted on the UK, some of which would have been destined for Northern Ireland. We are unable to supply data on drug seizures by Customs, prior to 1999 as to do so would require a substantial manual exercise and would incur disproportionate cost.
	Data for drug finds in prison establishments prior to March 2001 was not collated centrally and is not available.
	
		(a) Seizures by Police Service of Northern Ireland
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 April–December 2003 
		
		
			 Cocaine
			 Powder (gms) 470.05 4,923.27 340.28 1,701.36 3,399.88 3,023.87 11,740.31 
			 Wraps 4 0 0 0 4 12 5 
			 
			 Crack cocaine 
			 (gms) 62.5 31.51 10.5 43.13 66.5 50 9.2 
			 
			 Heroin
			 Powder (gms) 143.29 227.54 464.82 3114.05 92.11 316.01 169.87 
			 Ampoules 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Mls 0 125.96 2.72 121.01 366 84.26 63.10 
			 Wraps 0 6 11 16 69 1 1 
			 Ecstasy
			 Tablets 85,600 163,023 448,015 410,671 127,368 605,188 207,404 
			 Powder (gms) 26.25 112.0 514.1 498 232.81 1 0 
			 Capsules 169 122 0 11 2 25 0 
		
	
	
		(b) Seizures by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise
		
			  Cocaine (grams) Heroin (grams) Ecstasy (tablets) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 0 0 12,000 
			 2000–01 0 0 118,000 
			 2001–02 0 0 0 
			 2002–03 1,690 0 6 
		
	
	
		(c) Seizures by Northern Ireland Prison Service.
		
			  Cocaine Heroin Ecstasy 
			  Grams Tablets Grams Wraps Tablets 
		
		
			 2001–02 7.2 7 0 8 38.5 
			 2002–03 0.5 0 0.3 0 11 
			 2003–04(8) 1 0 2.8 0 105 
		
	
	(8) Figures stated for 2003–04 are up to end of November 2003.

Equality Commission

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reports he has received from (a) consultants and (b) the Northern Ireland Audit Office on the outcome performance of the Equality Commission; and if he will place the reports in the Library.

John Spellar: I have not received any reports from consultants relating to the overall outcome performance of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Audit Office carries out an annual audit of the Commission's Accounts. Its opinion is included within the Financial Statement section of the Commission's Annual Report which is laid in Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly. A copy of the Audit Office Management Letter relating to the Annual Accounts is also provided to Office of the First and the deputy First Minister. The Commission's Corporate Plan has been approved by Ministers and its performance against this Plan and its annual Business Plan is subject to on-going monitoring.

Equality Commission

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Equality Commission's outcome performance in relation to equality of opportunity.

John Spellar: The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has a number of statutory duties. Among these are the duties to promote equality of opportunity and affirmative and positive action. It has a Corporate Plan and Annual Business Plan and its performance against these is monitored. The Commission reports on its performance against these within its Annual Report which is laid in both Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Fruit and Vegetable Subsidy

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce a fruit and vegetable subsidy scheme for low income families in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The Food Benefit Schemes (Northern Ireland) Order provides for the establishment of a new Welfare Food Scheme or Schemes in Northern Ireland. It is anticipated that the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety will be consulting on the detail of a new Scheme in Spring 2004. It is intended that the new Scheme will add fresh fruit and vegetables to the liquid milk and infant formula already available through the current scheme to low income families.

General de Chastelain

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full days General John de Chastelain has spent in Northern Ireland during 2004.

Jane Kennedy: During 2004 General de Chastelain has been engaged in decommissioning work in Northern Ireland for approximately one week per month.

Health Professionals

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what precautionary steps are to be taken to ensure that health professionals from other EU member states are fit to practice on arrival in Northern Ireland, with particular reference to the imminent expansion of the European Union.

Angela Smith: All acceding States are committed to ensuring that the qualifications they award to doctors, nurses responsible for general care, midwives, dentists and pharmacists who begin their training on or after the date of accession meet specified minimum requirements. It is for the European Commission, who are closely monitoring their progress, to see that these obligations are met. They intend to update member states shortly.
	Other migrant workers will be entitled to a comparative scrutiny of their qualifications and experience against any national requirements, and, in the event of a substantial difference, may be required to undertake additional training or experience.

Health Promotion

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to enhance (a) co-operation and (b) communication between local agencies involved in health promotion.

Angela Smith: Each Health and Social Services Board has established a multi-sectoral Investing for Health Partnership to enhance co-operation between agencies to promote the health and well-being of the people in their areas.
	The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has also set up a Regional Health Promotion Planning Group, chaired by the Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland, to advise on the development of health promotion policies generally and improve communication in health promotion across Northern Ireland. Investing for Health Partnerships are represented on the Group.

Health Service Employees

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the contribution made by health service employees aged 65 or over to the NHS in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: HPSS employees do a difficult and demanding job which serves the sick and vulnerable in our society. Age is not a factor in determining the value of the contribution of HPSS employees.

Health Service Employees

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many health service employees were aged 65 years and above in Northern Ireland on the latest date for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The number of employees aged 65 years and above working in HPSS organisations in Northern Ireland as at 31 December 2003 was 99 (or 65.4 whole time equivalent).

Human Rights Commission

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will extend the term of one or more of the Commissioners due to leave the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on 29 February; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: Under guidance from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, there is an expectation that appointments to upper tier bodies such as the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission should be for no more than two terms.

Human Rights Commission

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons his Department has decided to continue to pay those members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission who withdrew from the business of the Commission in September 2003; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: Both Commissioners who withdrew from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in September 2003, while not actively engaged in Commission business, have continued to receive papers. It is on this basis and in the hope that the two Commissioners would re-engage with their fellow Commissioners that the Northern Ireland Office has continued to pay them.
	The term of appointment of one of the two Commissioners who withdrew from the Commission's activities expired on 29 February.

Human Rights Commission

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to make a definitive response to the Review of Powers which was submitted to him by the Northern Ireland Rights Commission on 28 February 2001; for what reasons he has not yet made such a response; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: The deadline for responses to the Government's consultation document on the Commission's Review of Powers submission was 16 August 2002, but suspension of the Assembly then intervened.
	The Joint Declaration committed the Government to bring the consultation on our draft response to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's Review of Powers to an end following restoration of devolution. This was subsequently brought forward to October 2003. However the election in November and an outstanding response from a key consultee made this impossible.
	The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is a key institution of the Belfast Agreement. The Government want it to succeed and are committed to helping it to do so. We are considering our response to the Review of Powers as part of a package of measures to ensure that we have a strong, independent and self-confident Commission, which draws support from all parts of the community. I intend to make an announcement in the near future.

In-patient Beds

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staffed inpatient beds there were in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: Information on the average number of available inpatient beds is shown in the following table. Average available beds are defined as the average number of beds available during the year in wards that are open overnight, measured at midnight. Hospitals may also have a number of beds in wards, which are open only during the day. Beds reserved for day case admission or regular day admission are not included.
	
		Average available beds in Northern Ireland 19972003
		
			  Northern Ireland Average 
		
		
			  
			  
			 199798 9,005.8 
			 199899 8,817.8 
			 19992000 8,638.8 
			 200001 8,571.0 
			 200102 8,419.1 
			 200203 8,301.3 
		
	
	Source:
	Aggregate Hospital Return KH03a.

Insurance Companies

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what powers are available to him to ensure that those insurance companies operating within Northern Ireland who are not members of the Association of British Insurers are able to discharge their present and future obligations to those who have placed business with them; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has no powers in this regard. Insurance is a reserved matter, and the regulation of the insurance industry in the UK is a matter for the Financial Services Authority, within the framework of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and associated secondary legislation.

Police Training College

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what funding has been allocated to the construction of the new Police Service of Northern Ireland training college; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what he expects the annual budget of the new police training college to be.

Jane Kennedy: The provision of the new Police College is a Public Private Partnership Project. The detailed specification is currently being developed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The annual cost of operating this college will not be known until the tendering process, which commences later this year, has been completed.

Medical Staff

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses there were per head of population in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not available.

Medical Staff

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were practising in Northern Ireland per 1,000 population in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: The information requested is as follows.
	Number of doctors, qualified nurses and unqualified nurses working in HPSS organisations per 1,000 population in each year since 1997.
	
		
			 As at Doctors(9) Qualified Nurses(10) Unqualified Nurses 
			 September Headcount (11)WTE Headcount (11)WTE Headcount (11)WTE 
		
		
			 1997 2.1 1.9 7.8 6.7 2.3 2.0 
			 1998 2.2 2.0 7.8 6.7 2.3 2.0 
			 1999 2.1 2.0 7.9 6.7 2.4 2.1 
			 2000 2.2 2.0 8.0 6.8 2.4 2.1 
			 2001 2.2 2.1 8.0 6.8 2.5 2.2 
			 2002 2.4 2.2 8.4 7.1 2.7 2.3 
			 2003 2.4 2.3 8.8 7.5 2.7 2.3 
		
	
	(9) Doctors include medical doctors and general practitioners but exclude those doctors practising exclusively in the private sector
	(10) Figures for qualified nurses include health visitors, district nurses, midwives, school nurses, community psychiatric nurses, student health visitors, student midwives and other qualified nurses
	(11) Whole Time Equivalent

MRSA

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths were attributable to MRSA in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Ian Pearson: There is no specific code to identify Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the International Classification of Diseases, and it is thus not possible to provide the exact information requested. Information has been provided in the table based on the number of occasions on which MRSA or Staphylococcus aureus are mentioned on the death certificate.
	
		Table: Number of registered deaths where the death certificate mentioned Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, 19982002
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 All Staphylococcus aureus 14 20 17 32 36 
			 MRSA 11 13 14 16 25 
			   
			 Percentage of mentions of S. aureus that were MRSA 79 65 82 50 69

Musgrave Park Hospital (Brain Injury Unit)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the funding of the new Acquired Brain Injury Unit at Musgrave Park Hospital.

Angela Smith: The cost of the project is estimated at 8.4 million. The capital is being provided from Executive Programme Funds, established in the former Northern Ireland Executive's 2000 Budget. The resources are being allocated to Green Park Trust, in line with the financing requirement for the construction programme.

Olympic Bid 2012

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) meetings and (b) communications he has had with the organisers of the 2012 London Olympic bid in relation to promoting Northern Ireland as a venue for games events.

Angela Smith: The Chair of London 2012, Barbara Cassani, is undertaking a series of visits across the UK to promote and secure support for the bid. A visit to Northern Ireland is expected to take place in May or June. The Olympic Bid has also become a standing item on the agenda for the Sports Cabinet, which is attended by UK Sports Ministers, including the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Regular contact takes place with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport through an inter-departmental group on the Olympic bid. One of the issues discussed by this group is how the regions, including Northern Ireland, can benefit from the games. Northern Ireland has been suggested as a venue for some of the matches in the early rounds of the football tournament and there is also the further possibility, prior to the Games, of hosting training and acclimatisation camps for competing countries.

Paramilitary Offences

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many paramilitary offences have been committed by (a) Republican and (b) Loyalist groups in Northern Ireland since the signing of the Belfast Agreement, broken down by category of offence.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is as follows.
	
		Security situation statistics 11April 1998 to 29February 2004
		
			  Perceived attribution(12) 
			  Loyalist Republican Other/not known Total 
		
		
			 Number of deaths as a result of the security situation(13) 55 49 2 106 
			 Number of shooting incidents(14) 942 442 160 1,544 
			 Number of bombing incidents(15) 718 157 47 922 
			 Number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style assaults 538 298 0 836 
			 Number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style shootings 521 283 0 804 
		
	
	(12) Attribution is as perceived by PSNI based on the information available.
	(13) Includes all deaths due to the security situation.
	(14) The following types of incidents are included: shots fired by terrorists; shots fired by the security forces; paramilitary-style attacks involving shootings; shots heard (and later confirmed); other violent incidents where shots are fired (e.g. armed robbery).
	(15) An individual bombing incident may involve one or more explosive devices. Incidents recorded include explosions and defusings. Incidents involving hoax devices, petrol bombings or incendiaries are excluded.
	Note
	Statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Police Service of Northern Ireland has paid to recruitment agencies since its formation; and how much was paid to recruitment agencies in each of the last three years of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

Jane Kennedy: As at 1 March 2004 a total of 19,509,108 has been paid to recruitment agencies. This includes spending on the recruitment of police trainees, police reserve trainees and permanent support staff. This total also includes salary costs for temporary agency workers.
	Prior to the formation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in November 2001, the organisation did not utilise recruitment agency personnel.

Punishment Beatings

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to eliminate punishment beatings.

Jane Kennedy: The Government condemn the practice of so called punishment beatings which are quite simply barbaric and brutalising paramilitary assaults. The Government are engaged in dialogue with political and community leaders and opinion formers to use their influence to bring the practice to an end.

Radiographers

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the most recent figures are for the numbers of (a) employed radiographers and (b) vacancies for radiographers in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The information requested is as follows.
	
		Number of radiographers working in HPSS organisations as at 31December 2003
		
			 HPSS organisation Headcount WTE(16) 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 54 48.3 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 139 122.6 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 23 19.3 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 51 46.2 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 27 19.8 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Greenpark Healthcare HSS Trust 27 24.9 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 19 17.9 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 21 17.0 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 87 77.0 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust 23 21.5 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust 56 46.2 
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 68 56.2 
			 Total 595 516.9 
		
	
	(16) Whole time equivalent
	
		Number of radiography vacancies (including long-term vacancies) within all HPSS trusts as at 30September 2003
		
			 HPSS organisation Headcount WTE(17) 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 3 2.5 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 5 4.5 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 9 9.0 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Greenpark Healthcare HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 2 2.0 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust 4 4.0 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust 2 2.0 
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 3 2.0 
			 Total 28 26.0 
		
	
	(17) Whole time equivalent
	
		Number of long-term (vacant more than 3 months) radiography vacancies within all HPSS trusts as at 30September 2003
		
			 HPSS organisation Headcount WTE(18) 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 2 1.5 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 3 2.5 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 6 6.0 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Greenpark Healthcare HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust 1 1.0 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust 0 0.0 
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 2 1.0 
			 Total 14 12.0 
		
	
	(18) Whole time equivalent

Refuse Dumping

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions there have been between the Minister for the Environment and his counterpart in the Republic of Ireland, regarding the illegal dumping of refuse from the Republic of Ireland on the northern side of the border.

Angela Smith: A meeting with Martin Cullen TD, Minister for the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government has been scheduled for early April 2004 to discuss a range of waste management issues including cross-border movements of waste.

Segregation

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of facilitating segregation between Loyalist and Republican prisoners has been in the last 10 years; and what estimate he has made of future costs to maintain the system.

Jane Kennedy: The operation of segregated and normal regimes has not been costed separately over the last 10 years. The Prison Service expects to incur 9.5 million in additional resource expenditure during 200405 in order to accommodate the separation of Loyalist and Republican prisoners.

Taxis

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sanctions are available to penalise taxi drivers who intentionally (a) turn off the meters in their vehicles and (b) overcharge passengers; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The current fleet of licensed taxis in Northern Ireland is approximately 6,400. Of these 255 (or 4 per cent.) are subject to fare regulation. Drivers of taxis whose fares are regulated must charge the hirer the metered fare when operating within a five mile radius of Belfast city centre. The only exception is if the taxi has been hired under 'special terms' for a period of time.
	The penalty for infringement of the relevant By-Laws is a fine of 5. Also in serious cases the Department, following a conviction, has the power to suspend or revoke the taxi driver's licence. It is recognised the present level of fines for non-compliance with metering and charging requirements are not deterring offences. My officials are conducting an urgent review to introduce a more appropriate level of fines.

Teenage Mothers

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of births were to teenage mothers in each of the last 10 years, broken down by health board area.

Ian Pearson: The following table gives the percentage of births that were to teenage mothers in each of the last 10 years, by Health and Social Services Board area.
	
		Number of births to teenage mothers expressed as a percentage of all births, by year and Health and Social Services Board
		
			  EHSSB NHSSB SHSSB WHSSB 
		
		
			 1993 7.0 6.7 5.1 6.3 
			 1994 7.0 6.5 5.0 6.6 
			 1995 6.9 5.3 4.3 7.1 
			 1996 7.4 5.9 5.2 6.7 
			 1997 8.0 6.4 4.9 7.0 
			 1998 8.3 6.7 6.2 7.4 
			 1999 8.7 7.3 5.9 8.8 
			 2000 8.9 6.5 5.9 7.6 
			 2001 8.1 6.5 5.6 6.8 
			 2002 8.4 6.4 5.0 7.5

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Death Penalty

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to (a) Pakistan and (b) the United States of America regarding their use of the death penalty for people under the age of 18.

Mike O'Brien: With our EU partners, we make regular representations to the Pakistani Government on human rights issues including the use of the death penalty, most recently in June 2003.
	We also make regular representations to the US, along with our EU partners, urging them to abolish the death penalty. On average, the EU makes representations to the US around once a month on individual cases.
	We are particularly concerned about cases where the use of the death penalty contravenes customary international law, e.g. the execution of those who were juveniles at the time of the crime, and the execution of those suffering from mental retardation. We particularly urge the US to abandon this practice. Furthermore, we also raise the issue bilaterally with the US authorities.

Family Reunification (DNA Testing)

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make statement on the (a) DNA testing requirements, (b) DNA testing procedures and (c) the (i) normal and (ii) maximum permitted timescales in respect of each stage of that procedure, for a child applying to be reunited under a family reunification application with a parent resident in the UK, where that child is resident in (A) Pakistan and (B) another country.

Chris Mullin: The Government's DNA testing scheme for entry clearance applicants is available on a voluntary basis wholly paid for by UKvisas. It is used to establish family relationships in cases where other factors in an application have led the Entry Clearance Officer to doubt that the relationship between the applicant and the sponsor is as claimed.
	A UK based firm is contracted to carry out the DNA tests on receipt of samples from the applicant and the sponsor in the UK. The applicant's sample is obtained by a qualified medical practitioner appointed by the visa section in the presence of a member of staff from our overseas diplomatic post. The UK sponsor's sample is obtained by an approved haematologist in the UK.
	There are no set timescales for obtaining the samples from an applicant or sponsor. Timescales vary according to a number of factors, including the availability of the applicant or sponsor to provide a sample. The UK based firm is contracted to complete and return test results within 35 days of receipt of the samples. There are currently twice weekly sample collecting sessions at our High Commission in Islamabad, dealing with 80 to 90 applicants at each session. Sponsors are responsible for organising their own DNA sample collection in the UK. In 90 per cent. of cases worldwide, the test results are processed in the UK within 15 days of receipt of both samples. There is no separate breakdown for individual countries.

India

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the level of discrimination faced by Christians in the states of (a) Madhya Pradesh and (b) Gujarat; and what representations he has made to the Indian Government.

Mike O'Brien: The Government are concerned about the religious violence against Christians, including the attacks that took place in Madhya Pradesh in January. We understand that the situation in Jhabua has now improved and that religious leaders and the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister have met to look at ways of improving inter-community relations. Our High Commission in New Delhi will continue to monitor the situation closely.
	We condemned the religious related violence in Gujarat in 2002. The vast majority of victims were Muslim. We welcome the Government of India's assurances that they will take action to bring to justice the perpetrators of violence. However, we understand that, to date, there have been very few prosecutions. We have repeatedly voiced our concerns with the Indian authorities on this, and will continue to do so.
	We raised our concerns with the Government of India about the attacks on Christians in Gujarat in 1999 at the time. Since then, violence against Christians in Gujarat has declined.
	We provided immediate relief assistance to the victims of violence and we are now funding project work in Gujarat to encourage reconciliation between the worst affected communities.
	We have raised the issue of rights of minorities with the Indian Government. We will continue to urge the Indian authorities to ensure the right to freedom of religion is upheld, and that those responsible for attacks on religious minorities are brought to justice.

India

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of inter-religious violence in Orissa India with reference to the treatment of evangelical Christians.

Mike O'Brien: We remain concerned about violence against Christians that has taken place in Orissa. Our High Commission in New Delhi will continue to monitor the situation closely and the Indian authorities are well aware of our commitment to human rights, including the right to freedom of religion.
	We continue to urge the Indian authorities to ensure the right to freedom of religion is upheld, and that those responsible for attacks on religious minorities are brought to justice.

Maldives

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department last met members of the (i) Government of the Maldives and (ii) Maldivian Democratic Party; and what was discussed.

Mike O'Brien: The last official meeting between Ministers was in 1999 when my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister visited the Maldives. Our High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, also accredited to the Maldives, met with the Maldives Deputy Foreign Minister in Colombo on 30 January this year. The High Commissioner will be visiting the Maldives later on this month, and will seek calls on the President, Foreign Minister, and Deputy Foreign Minister. Officials in London last met the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on 24 February 2004. Our High Commission in Colombo has regular contact with MDP representatives, and the High Commissioner was the first Head of Mission to meet them on 8 January this year. The discussion with the Maldivian Foreign Ministers covered issues relating to small island states, and our bilateral relations. Discussions with MDP representatives covered MDP concerns about human rights and limitations on their ability to conduct political activity in the Maldives.

Maldives

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the activities of the National Security Service of the Maldives; and what assessment he has made of these activities.

Mike O'Brien: The Maldivian Democratic Party has raised concerns with us regarding the activities of the National Security Service in the Maldives, particularly relating to its role during the civil disturbances in Male' on 19 and 20 September 2003. We continue to monitor reports of human rights abuses in the Maldives, and are considering with our European partners what further action we might take.

Russia

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from (a) Amnesty International and (b) the international community on gender-based violence in Russia; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We receive, and welcome representations from Amnesty International and other international and Russian NGOs on a wide range of human rights issues in the Russian Federation. During Amnesty's Justice for All campaign last year, which included gender-based violence in Russia, we worked very closely with the campaign manager and earlier this month we jointly hosted a successful workshop for UK and Russian NGOs which included discussion of women's rights.
	Violence and discrimination against women remains a concern in Russia. The UK is currently funding the Moscow Helsinki Group to train a network of NGOs to respond to violations of women's rights. For the last 10 years, we have also supported a project in St. Petersburg, which trains NGOs and police officers in handling domestic violence.

Tibet

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of (a) indigenous Tibetans and (b) Han Chinese in (i) the Tibetan Autonomous Region and (ii) Greater Tibet, based on the 1950 boundaries.

Bill Rammell: Official figures for 2000 give the population of the Tibet Autonomous Region as 2.6 million of which 92.2 per cent. are Tibetans and 5.9 per cent. are Han Chinese. We have no other figures.
	We continue to encourage the Chinese to ensure that economic development in Tibet does not adversely affect the Tibetan population. This includes ensuring that they benefit from economic growth including new jobs and the provision of housing, health and education facilities.

UN International Covenant on Economic,Social and Cultural Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what ways the Government is carrying forward its commitment to the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Bill Rammell: The United Kingdom ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 1976 and since then the Government has continued to work to improve protections for economic and social rights, in line with the international legal obligations set out in the Covenant.
	The Covenant contains a large number of rights which are properly the primary responsibility of a range of Government Departments. These include rights related to education, health, work, housing, clothing, food and culture. The role of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is primarily concerned with international processes dealing with these rights and with co-ordinating material for submission to the UN Committee which monitors treaty compliance. In this latter regard, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office ensures that the recommendations of the Committee are transmitted to those Departments with responsibilities for fulfilling the Covenant's obligations.

Zimbabwe

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government has had with the Government of South Africa on the export of electricity to Zimbabwe by Eskom; and if he will make a statement on energy supplies to Zimbabwe.

Chris Mullin: The Government have regular discussions with the Government of South Africa about the situation in Zimbabwe. These have not included the export of electricity to Zimbabwe by Eskom.

Zimbabwe

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which representative of the Zimbabwe Government approached his Department to seek assistance in respect of the trial of Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai.

Chris Mullin: Mr J. Musawaka, Director of Public Prosecutions in the Attorney-General's Office, sought assistance from the Home Office in preparing for this trial. The Zimbabwean authorities were informed that the request would not be acceded to without written assurance that Tsvangirai would not be subjected to the death penalty if found guilty. The Zimbabwean authorities have not given us that assurance, and we have not offered them any assistance. The evidence stage of the trial has now finished.

WALES

Manufacturing

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Assembly Government on the manufacturing sector in Wales.

Don Touhig: Wales Office Ministers regularly discuss a range of issues with the Assembly Government, including those relating to the manufacturing sector. My most recent bilateral with Andrew Davies AM, Minister for Economic Development and Transport in the Assembly Government, was on 26 January 2004.

Project Funding

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years.

Don Touhig: The Wales Office was established on 1 July 1999. It has no such projects.

Project Funding

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region.

Don Touhig: The Wales Office was established on 1 July 1999. It has spent no money on such projects.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

CPS

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the responsibility for oversight of the Crown Prosecution Service of (a) the Attorney-General and (b) the Home Secretary.

Harriet Harman: Ministerial oversight of the independent Crown Prosecution Service rests solely with the Attorney-General, who has statutory responsibility for the superintendence of the Director of Public Prosecutions as Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (as provided for by section 3(1) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985). The Law Officers Act 1997, provides that any function of the Attorney-General, including any statutory function, may also be exercised by myself as Solicitor-General.

CPS

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Solicitor-General what plans she has to change the name of the Crown Prosecution Service; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: I would refer the hon. Member to my Statement of 3 March 2004, Official Report, column 901. The issue of a possible name change for the Crown Prosecution Service is under active consideration in the context of the changing role of the Service within the criminal justice system. The Director of Public Prosecutions is discussing this with his staff. When that process is complete, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney-General will announce their decision.

CPS

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the basis on which the Director of Public Prosecutions advises the Home Secretary on the Crown Prosecution Service.

Harriet Harman: The Director of Public Prosecutions and the Home Secretary, as with other Ministers and relevant senior officials, meet together from time to time to discuss criminal justice matters, including matters concerning the Crown Prosecution Service. They do so on the basis of their respective responsibilities for the operation and development of the criminal justice system.

Katharine Gun

Mike Hancock: To ask the Solicitor-General what discussions the Attorney-General has had in the last 12 months with the Secretary of State for Defence on the Katharine Gun case.

Harriet Harman: The Attorney-General when considering whether or not to grant consent to the prosecution of Katharine Gun for an offence under section 1 of the Official Secrets Act conducted a Shawcross exercise. He wrote to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in view of his departmental interest and copied it to other interested Ministerial colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Defence. This exercise is designed to enable the Attorney to be informed of Ministerial colleagues' views of the public interest considerations in the case that are within their particular Ministerial responsibilities. He took them into consideration when deciding whether to give his consent. The decision to consent to the prosecution was the Attorney-General's alone.
	There have been no discussions between the Attorney-General and the Secretary of State for Defence over the Katharine Gun case in the last 12 months.

Katharine Gun

William Cash: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to her answer of 2 March, what the evidential deficiency was to which she refers as reason in the case of Katharine Gun for having exercised discretion not to enter a nolle prosequi; and if she will lay the papers to which this relates, including those referred to by the Attorney-General in the House of Lords on 26 February, in the Library.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 5 March 2004
	The decision to offer no further evidence against Katharine Gun was made by the Crown Prosecution Service as an independent prosecuting authority. It was a decision taken solely on legal grounds and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. There was, in this case, a clear prima facie breach of section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1989. However Senior Treasury Counsel prosecuting this case gave advice, with which the Director of Public Prosecutions fully concurred, that there was no longer a realistic prospect of convicting Katharine Gun. The evidential deficiency related to the prosecution's inability, within the current statutory framework, to disprove the defence of necessity to be raised on the particular facts of this case.
	I am not sure what papers the hon. Member is referring to but counsels' advice etc are the subject of legal privilege and so it would not be appropriate for me to place them in the Library.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Equal Opportunities Commission

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister for Women what grants have been allocated to the Equal Opportunities Commission over the last five years; and if she will make a statement on changes in the level of funding during that time.

Patricia Hewitt: The value of the grants paid to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) in the four previous financial years is:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 19992000 6,782,000 
			 200001 8,382,000 
			 200102 8,742,300 
			 200203 6,887,500 
		
	
	These figures have previously been laid before the House as part of the EOC Annual Report and Accounts.
	The agreed level of funding for this year is 8,005,000.
	The increase for 200001 and 200102 funded the EOC's modernisation programme allowing them to develop a more pro-active and strategic role in promoting equal opportunities for women and men.
	This year, the EOC received an increase in funding for additional work on tackling the pay gap. This reflects the key role played by the EOC in helping the Government deliver on gender equality.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Commercial Radio Mergers

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how she will operate the public interest test in proposed commercial radio mergers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	Draft guidance on the operation of the public interest merger provisions relating to newspaper and other media mergersincluding commercial radiohas been the subject of a public consultation which closed on 12 March 2004. We are currently analysing the responses and intend to publish our response by 16 April 2004.

Digital Television

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what reports she has received from the Digital Televisions Consumer Expert Group.

Estelle Morris: None. We established the Digital Television Consumer Expert Group to help us review the criteria for switchover and to give their views on communications with consumers, equipment and installation issues, issues relating to the transitional stages and implementation of switchover and any regional issues. We have asked them to report by the end of March.

New Opportunities Fund (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money from the New Opportunities Fund was allocated to Chorley in each year since 1997; and how the money was spent.

Estelle Morris: The New Opportunities Fund began making grants in 1999.
	The DCMS Lottery Awards Database, which uses information supplied by Lottery Distributors, shows that organisations based within the Chorley constituency have received 40 Lottery Awards. Of these, four were for projects specifically located within Chorley.
	I am arranging for a full list of these awards to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Sports (Honours)

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the honours which have been awarded to surviving members of the Great Britain Rugby League World Cup winning sides of (a) 1954 and (b) 1972; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 15 March 2004
	Chris Hesketh, who played in the Rugby League World Cup of 1972, received an MBE in 1976.

Sports (Honours)

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many honours were awarded for sporting involvement or achievement in the last five years, broken down by sport.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 15 March 2004
	The number of honours awarded for services to sport, broken down by category, over the last 10 honours lists are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Athletics 19 
			 Bowls 3 
			 Boxing 7 
			 Cricket 11 
			 Curling(19) 6 
			 Cycling 3 
			 Disabled Sport 27 
			 Football (Association) 38 
			 Football (Rugby)(20) 53 
			 Golf 11 
			 Hockey 5 
			 Horse Racing 5 
			 Martial Arts 3 
			 Motor Cycling 6 
			 Motor Racing 5 
			 Rowing(21) 17 
			 Equestrianism 3 
			 Skating 3 
			 Snooker 2 
			 Swimming 6 
			 Tennis 5 
			 Yachting 7 
			 General Sports Administration(22) 32 
			 Other Sports(23) 34 
		
	
	(19) Includes five members of the 2000 Winter Olympics squad.
	(20) Includes 39 members of the Rugby World Cup 2003; one for services to Rugby League; and two for services to both Rugby League and Rugby Union.).
	(21) Includes 13 members of the 2000 Olympics squad.
	(22) Incorporates such areas as: Youth Sports Trusts/Charities/Councils, Dance and Leisure services, amenity management, Olympic and Commonwealth Games, sport medical associations.
	(23) Among others: Angling, Archery, Badminton, Basketball, Canoeing, Gymnastics, Shooting, Mountaineering, Squash and Skiing.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Poverty

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a family's ability to buy healthy food is taken into account in the Government's measurement of child poverty.

Chris Pond: The document 'Measuring child poverty' was published in December 2003. It outlines the Government's measure of child poverty for the long term. This new measure will include indicators of low income and material deprivation. The report provides details of the questions which will form part of the material deprivation tier of the new child poverty measure and the basis on which they were selected. Copies of the document are available in the Library.

EU Enlargement

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether there is a website giving advice and guidance for citizens from EU accession states wishing to work in the UK from 1 May; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: There is currently advice available for citizens of the EU accession states on the working in the UK website; www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/working in the uk/en/homepage/your status/european citizens. html
	Further guidance, including application forms will be made available on the Home Office and Working in the UK websites in advance of 1 May.

Maternity Allowance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to his Department of administering Maternity Allowance was (a) in total and (b) per claimant in the last year for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: Information is not available in the format requested. The Department now accounts for its administration and benefit expenditure by Strategic Objective, as set out in its Public Service Agreements (PSA), and by individual Requests for Resources (RfRs), as set out in the Departmental Estimates and Accounts.

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Pension Credit recipients have reported a significant and material change in their circumstances in each month since October 2003; and of these, how many subsequently (a) have had their claims reassessed, (b) have had their awards (i) increased, (ii) decreased and (iii) withdrawn and (c) are still waiting for their notifications to be processed.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the form requested. The table shows numbers of changes reported by Pension Credit recipients between October 2003 and January 2004, rounded to the nearest five. The numbers of 'changes reported' and 'changes outstanding' include all changes reported by customers, including some which required no action. The numbers of 'changes processed' include any change which required action. These include some minor changes, such as a change in address, which did not affect a customer's award. The number of changes currently outstanding is considered to be a normal head of work.
	Information on the outcome of reported changes is not currently available.
	
		Pension credit: changes of circumstances reported by customersOctober 2003 to January 2004
		
			  October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 
		
		
			 Changes reported 203,905 273,740 254,705 396,295 
			 Changes processed 108,765 215,055 202,540 413,105 
			 Changes outstanding 96,370 155,050 207,220 190,410

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Pension Credit applications have been made (a) through the pension credit application line, (b) in writing, (c) via the internet, (d) through a home visit, (e) through a local Pension Service surgery and (f) by another method.

Malcolm Wicks: A total of 841,000 Pension Credit applications had been received by 29 February. Of these, 703,000 were made through the Pension Credit application line and 138,000 were made on a paper application form obtained by some other means. Of the latter, 58,000 were made as a result of a home visit. It is not possible to say how many applications were made through a local service surgery. Applications for Pension Credit cannot be made via the internet, although the application form can be downloaded from the Pension Service website.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000.

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received concerning shortages of paper versions of the Pension Credit application pack; what discussions he has held with affected organisations; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: We have received no such representations this year and there is no shortage of Pension Credit paper application packs. In January, the Chief Executive of The Pension Service wrote to the Chief Executives of Age Concern, Citizens Advice, Help the Aged, the Local Government Association, the RNIB and the RNID to explain that supplies of paper applications packs are available through the local service of The Pension Service and that the application form can be downloaded from The Pension Service website. There will be a new version of the application pack from April.

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 320W, on Pension Credit, how many home visits involving Pension Credit have been undertaken in each local authority cluster in each month since the Pension Service was created.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in precisely the form requested. Tables have been placed in the Library showing the number of home visits undertaken by the local service of The Pension Service in each local service cluster in Great Britain between April 2003 and January 2004. All visits undertaken since April 2003 have covered pension credit. Work is in hand to revise local service cluster boundaries to align them with local authority boundaries.

Pension Surgeries

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many regular pension service drop-in and appointment surgeries have been established (a) in each region, (b) in each local authority cluster, (c) in each constituency and (d) in total.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available in the format requested.
	The information that is available is the number of surgeries offering appointments and a drop-in facility and the number of surgeries offering appointment only in each region, and is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Region Number of surgeries offering both appointments and a drop-in facility Number of surgeries offering appointments only 
		
		
			 South West 200 31 
			 South East 303 22 
			 London 146 63 
			 East Midlands 451 72 
			 West Midlands 294 18 
			 Wales 133 29 
			 North West 209 27 
			 North East 197 103 
			 Scotland 0 268 
			 Total 1,933 633 
		
	
	Details of local service surgeries can be obtained by telephoning the single 'lo call' access number for The Pension Service, which is 0845 60 60 265. Locally surgery information is often available in libraries, GP surgeries, and advertised in the local press and radio.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Administration Proceedings

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the transparency of the position of the administrator in administration proceedings.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 16 March 2004
	Administration is a collective insolvency proceeding in which the administrator must act in the interests of the creditors as a whole.
	The administrator's proposals for achieving the purpose of the administration are subject to the approval of creditors. The administrator is under a duty to report to the creditors on a regular basis, furthermore the creditors can form a committee, which allows them to perform a more active role in overseeing the proceedings.
	The administrator's actions are open to challenge by the creditors, if they can satisfy the court that the administrator has acted, or proposes to act, in a way that prejudices or unfairly harms their interests.

Archiving Technology

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what responsibility her Department has in developing (a) permanent, (b) secure and (c) digital archiving technology; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Department of Trade and Industry encourages the development of digital archiving technologies, and provides some financial assistance towards collaborative research projects involving business and universities in this field.

Beer

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to ensure that beer drinkers receive a full pint of liquid.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department intends to consult later this year on proposals to consolidate and modernise weights and measures controls on the sale of foods, including draught beer.

British Nuclear Fuels

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  pursuant to her answer of 11 March 2004, Official Report, column 1675W, on British Nuclear Fuels, what discussions officials have had with BNFL about the fixed price contract for nuclear clean-up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the use of fixed price contracts for the clean-up of radioactively contaminated sites by BNFL.

Stephen Timms: BNFL Inc. entered into certain fixed price clean-up contracts with US DoE at the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Plant (AMWTP) in Idaho and the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) in Oak Ridge a number of years ago. Some losses on those contracts have been reported in BNFL's annual report. BNFL Inc's focus is now on contracts which pose minimal risk, and it already has a number of these contracts in place and they are making a useful contribution to the group.
	BNFL is taking steps to limit any further losses under the two historic legacy contracts and, in liaison with officials, is actively pursuing claims for compensation under the terms of those contracts. I have also discussed this issue with US Energy Secretary, Spencer Abraham.

Building Standards

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what action her Department is taking to tackle rogue builders;
	(2)  what steps her Department is taking to (a) promote awareness of the Quality Mark scheme among the public and (b) encourage applications from building firms;
	(3)  how many building firms in (a) England and (b) Kent have (i) applied for and (ii) been granted membership of the Quality Mark scheme for builders.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government are working with the construction industry, local authorities, consumer groups and other stakeholders to introduce the Quality Mark scheme.
	The scheme was initially piloted in Birmingham and Somerset in 2001. A series of trade launches have since been held in other parts of the country. Registration fees for most firms have been subsidised and free advice on entry requirements is available to applicants.
	Records show that a total of 535 firms have been approved so far, 507 of which are located in England including 25 in Kent. A total of 699 firms have applied, of which 694 are based in England including 22 in Kent.

Business Start-Ups (London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses have received assistance in starting-up from Government schemes and initiatives in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough in each year from 1992, broken down by type.

Jacqui Smith: Business Link for London is the main provider of Government funding assistance for start-up businesses within the Greater London area. Other schemes are administered by national and regional organisations and it is not possible to provide figures in the format requested without disproportionate cost.
	Business Link for London's (BL4L) records show that up to Quarter 3 of 200304 they have given advice/support to 23,033 pre-start ups. During 200203 they gave advice/support to 11,466 pre-starts. Earlier figures are unavailable.
	A breakdown of pre-start ups, including pre-start registrations in London boroughs during 200304 is detailed on the following table.
	The London Development Agency (LDA) also has programmes designed to support business, small firms or new start-ups. The LDA also focus on the needs of strategic businesses that are large employers in the local economy, which sometimes need help in identifying problems at an early stage.
	In 200102 the LDA was responsible for creating 2,073 new businesses to the London economy. In 200203, 1,443 businesses were created. To the end of the third quarter of 200304, the LDA had added 536 businesses to the London economy, against a target of 900. Current projections are that 1,357 businesses will have been created by the end of the reporting year in March 2004.
	
		London borough, pre-starts 200304
		
			 Borough Number of pre-starts assisted 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 50 
			 Barnet 277 
			 Bexley 85 
			 Brent 239 
			 Bromley 162 
			 Camden 276 
			 City of London 32 
			 Croydon 299 
			 Ealing 257 
			 Enfield 379 
			 Greenwich 110 
			 Hackney 202 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 169 
			 Haringey 228 
			 Harrow 154 
			 Havering 54 
			 Hillingdon 135 
			 Hounslow 183 
			 Islington 292 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 145 
			 Kingston upon Thames 115 
			 Lambeth 260 
			 Lewisham 225 
			 Merton 133 
			 Newham 229 
			 Redbridge 205 
			 Richmond upon Thames 157 
			 Southwark 246 
			 Sutton 100 
			 Tower Hamlets 175 
			 Waltham Forest 201 
			 Wandsworth 225 
			 Westminster 537 
			 Not known 15,809 
			 Total 7,224

Clean Coal Technology

George Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what incentives she has planned to encourage investment in clean coal technology.

Stephen Timms: The Cleaner Coal Technology Programme has already committed some 9 million of Government support for RD which will have generated some 27 million of investment into cleaner coal technologies between 1999 and 2006. In addition to this, we have recently announced a new call for proposals under the Programme which will provide another 4 million of Government support for CCT RD. Under the Programme, we also support British businesses with Technology Transfer and Export Promotion projects with particular emphasis on countries such as China, India and Russia.

Coal Mining

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people have been employed in the coal mining industry from 1954 to date.

Stephen Timms: The following table shows numbers of people employed underground in National Coal Board/British Coal Corporation in each year from 1954 until privatisation in 1994. The figures for these years do not include for employment at private mines. The figures for 1995 onwards are for total number of different persons employed (including contractors) in all deep mines.
	Opencast mine employment statistics are not readily available for the full period, but Coal Authority figures show that as at 31 December 2003, 2,175 people were employed in opencast mines, this figure having stood at 3,863 on 31 March 1996, at the end of the first year for which the authority maintained these records.
	
		Thousand
		
			  Number of people employed in deep mines  
		
		
			 1954 707 
			 1955 704 
			 1956 703 
			 1957 710 
			 1958 699 
			 1959 665 
			 1960 607 
			 1961 575 
			 1962 556 
			 1963 528 
			 1964 502 
			 1965 455 
			 1966 422 
			 1967 390 
			 1968 331 
			 1969 306 
			 1970 290 
			 1971 286 
			 1972 274 
			 1973 252 
			 1974 253 
			 1975 252 
			 1976 250 
			 1977 248 
			 1978 240 
			 1979 242 
			 1980 237 
			 1981 172 
			 1982 164 
			 1983 148 
			 1984 139 
			 1985 114 
			 1986 91 
			 1987 75 
			 1988 69 
			 1989 56 
			 1990 49 
			 1991 38 
			 1992 28 
			 1993 10 
			 1994 7 
			 1995 12 
			 1996 10 
			 1997 14 
			 1998 11 
			 1999 10 
			 2000 9 
			 2001 9 
			 2002 8 
			 2003 6 
		
	
	Source:
	Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics.

Competitiveness Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Competitiveness Council on 11 March; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: I represented the UK at the EU Competitiveness Council in Brussels on 11 March 2004.
	The Competitiveness Council's contribution to the spring European Council was adopted. These conclusions covered the following priorities: integrated approach to competitiveness; enhanced competition through better functioning markets; regulatory reform; industry challenges and opportunities; research and innovation; employment and labour market reform; and mid term review of Lisbon agenda.
	Council conclusions were adopted on stimulating entrepreneurship, business related services, and basic research.
	No agreement was reached on the regulation for the community patent. The Presidency concluded, with disappointment, that they would have to carefully consider the next steps.
	There was a Presidency progress report on REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), and on the regulation for administrative co-operation in the enforcement of consumer protection laws.
	An extension of the temporary defence mechanism for shipbuilding was agreed. This is an extension of the measure until the WTO dispute, between the Community and Korea, is settled.
	The Presidency announced that the European Parliament had accepted the Council's amendments to the enforcement of intellectual property rights directive, and announced that the directive will shortly be adopted by written procedure.
	The proposed directive for an internal market in services was discussed. I congratulated the Commission on this initiative, which should increase competition to the benefit of consumers and make manufacturing more competitive by reducing companies' costs.
	There was an exchange of views on European space policy.

Energy Industry

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total value of tax reliefs and subsidies was in each year since 1990 for use in (a) nuclear, (b) oil, (c) gas, (d) electricity and (e) renewable industries.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 3 March 2004
	The information is as follows:
	Tax relief
	In arriving at the tax which companies pay on their profits, a range of reliefs apply, some of which are specific to particular taxes while others only apply under certain circumstances. The range of tax reliefs that can apply to oil, gas and generation of electricity (including through renewables) includes capital allowances; exemptions from the climate change levy; the RD tax credit; and specific treatment for British Energy, and the North Sea oil and gas industry.
	The main tax reliefs and their costs are listed in the December 2003 Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs, which is available in the Library of the House and is published by HM Treasury at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media//AAB24/pbr03_trr.pdf. Aggregate figures for the economy-wide costs of the minor direct tax reliefs can be found on the Inland Revenue's website at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/ menu.htm.
	Given the range of activities undertaken by companies, to collect figures for the costs of tax reliefs given to specific industries would be too burdensome on business. It is only possible to provide such figures where tax reliefs apply solely to a specific sector (such as reliefs against petroleum revenue tax which is granted only to the North Sea oil and gas companies).
	The Government have made the following specific provisions for the nuclear, oil, gas, electricity and renewables industries:
	(a) Nuclear
	The Government made provision in section 4 of the Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act for a tax disregard in respect of its proposed restructuring aid to British Energy. As the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry said in her statement to the House on 3 June 2003, the tax disregard, estimated at 0.9 billion, will not result in any extra cost to the Government. It has been provided to avoid a large tax charge hitting British Energy as a result of the proposed aid and thus the need for the aid to be correspondingly higher to achieve the same effect. (b) and (c) Oil and Gas
	Information on reliefs against petroleum revenue tax granted to North Sea oil and gas companies for 200203 and 200304 can be obtained from table 7 of the December 2003 Tax Ready Reckoner. Figures are published twice a year and figures for earlier years can be obtained from the Library of the House. These reliefs are given against PRT only. Information on the PRT payments made by oil and gas companies is contained in Table 11.12 of the Inland Revenue's corporate tax statistics, at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/menu.htm.
	(d) Electricity
	The climate change levy was introduced in April 2001. In view of their environmental benefits, the Government announced that electricity from good quality combined heat and power plants (CHP) sold via licensed electricity suppliers would be exempt from the climate change levy. This exemption took effect from 1 April 2003. Electricity generated from coal mine methane (CMM) was also exempted for the same reason in November 2003. The cost of the exemption for good quality CHP is estimated at 15 million per year from 200304, and for CMM less than 3 million from November 2003 to April 2004 (recorded as a negligible cost to the Exchequer).
	(e) Renewables
	From introduction of the Climate Change Levy in April 2001, there were exemptions for electricity generated by new renewables such as wind and solar energy. These exemptions are estimated to have cost the Exchequer around 20 million per year from 200102 onwards.
	Subsidies
	Information about the total value of subsidies in each year since 1990 for use in nuclear, oil, gas, electricity and renewable industries are set out in the following table.
	Support provided through the Non Fossil Fuel Obligation and the Renewables Obligation are not Government subsidies.
	
		 million
		
			  Nuclear Oil Gas Electricity Renewables 
			  (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) 
		
		
			 199091 1,265 0 0 0 21.3 6.1 0 
			 199192 798 0 0 0 24.8 11.7 0 
			 199293 864 0 0 0 26.6 28.9 0 
			 199394 895 0 0 0 26.8 68.1 0 
			 199495 892 0 0 0 20.5 96.4 0 
			 199596 699 0 0 0 21.6 94.5 0 
			 199697 0 0 0 0 18.5 109 0 
			 199798 0 0 0 0 15.9 115.9 0 
			 199899 0 0 0 0 14.4 113.7 0 
			 19992000 0 0 0 0 14.9 41.9 0 
			 200001 0 0 0 0 15.9 52.1 0 
			 200102 0 0 0 0 24.1 70.2 0 
			 200203 0 0 0 0 48.1  (24)277.9 
		
	
	(24) Gross est.
	Notes:
	Column (a):
	Figures are based on the premium received by Nuclear Electric plc over and above the market price for electricity in the period 199096.
	Grant in aid payments to UKAEA have not been included. These payments were to fund research and development in nuclear fusion which is likely to be many years from commercial exploitation, and to discharge UKAEA's own nuclear liabilities which arose from proving their technology rather than for commercial objectives. All UKAEA's reactors were experimental, and all are now closed.
	The Government are supporting the restructuring of British Energy on the terms set out in the Secretary of State's announcement of 28 November 2002, including making available to the company a credit facility, up to a maximum of 200 million. There are currently no outstanding drawings on the facility.
	Column (e):
	These figures show direct Government funding for capital grants, research and development on renewable energy through the DTIs Sustainable Energy programme and through Research Councils.
	Column (f):
	This column shows expenditure through the Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) for England and Wales.
	Column (g):
	The figure of 277.9 million for 200203 represents the value of the equivalent of the total Obligation on suppliers of 3 per cent. of electricity supplied. This equals 9,261,568 Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) at the buy-out value of 30 per MWh. This figure includes the value of NFFO ROCs for which there was a surplus of 57.6 million in 200203.

Energy Suppliers (Disconnections)

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) guidance and (b) instruction is given to domestic energy suppliers on disconnection of vulnerable consumers from supply during the winter period; and what action is required of suppliers in terms of reconnecting vulnerable households in readiness for the winter period.

Stephen Timms: The regulation of gas and electricity supply, including any guidance or instruction to suppliers, is the responsibility of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). Under their licences, suppliers are required to prepare and submit for Ofgem's approval a Code of Practice and Guidance for dealing with customers in difficulty. In their codes, suppliers are required to set out ways in which they will seek to avoid the disconnection of premises occupied by customers with payment difficulties. In addition, suppliers are required, so far as possible, to avoid the disconnection of pensionable, disabled or chronically sick customers with payment difficulties between October and March. I understand that Ofgem is in discussion with suppliers about improving disconnection arrangements, particularly as they apply to vulnerable customers. These discussions will cover a range of matters affecting disconnections, including arrangements for re-connection.

Holiday Clubs

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of (a) the legal protection afforded to people who become involved in holiday clubs which fail to deliver what is promised, and (b) how it compares with the protection afforded to people who purchase time shares; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Timeshare legislation generally does not apply to holiday clubs. The European Commission plan to Review the Timeshare Directive (94/47/EC), which would provide the opportunity to extend the scope of the Directive to holiday clubs. My officials are visiting Brussels this month to discuss the status and timing of this Review.
	The unfair Commercial Practices Directive, which is currently under negotiation, is expected to provide protection against two aspects of holiday club scamspressure selling and misleading offers. In addition, existing legislation covering misleading advertising, distance selling, as well as contract law could, in certain circumstances, apply to holiday clubs.

Miners' Compensation

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the differences between compensation for pension loss in mining compensation claims made using the interim pensions spreadsheet and those using the final version of the calculator.

Nigel Griffiths: None.

Miners' Compensation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for compensation have been lodged by former mineworkers for injuries sustained while handling explosives during the course of their work; how many claims have been successful; and how much compensation has been awarded for such claims in each of the last 10 years.

Nigel Griffiths: Around 200 claims for nitro-glycerine headaches have been settled.
	These are subject to a confidentiality agreement between the British Coal Corporation and the solicitor representing some of the claimants.

Miners' Compensation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on compensation available for former NCB workers who have sustained injuries whilst handling explosives during the course of their work.

Nigel Griffiths: Compensation for former NCB workers who have sustained injuries whilst handling explosives during the course of their work are personal injury claims and are handled on a Common Law basis.

Nirex

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2004, Official Report, column 1683W, on Nirex, what the last date was on which the Department discussed the budget for Nirex with (a) BNFL and (b) British Energy.

Stephen Timms: The financing of Nirex was raised in very broad terms at a routine quarterly meeting on 5 March between BNFL and several departments including DTI and at a meeting on 9 March between British Energy and this department.

Nuclear and Coal Liabilities Unit

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the (a) role and (b) powers of the Nuclear and Coal Liabilities unit; when the unit was established; and what its complement of staff is, excluding secondees.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 16 March 2004
	The Nuclear and Coal Liabilities Unit (NCLU) is an administrative directorate within the DTI and has no independent powers in its own right. It is responsible for the effective clean-up of the nuclear power industry and for meeting residual liabilities for the Coal Mining industry. In particular, it is currently creating the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and managing the Government relationships with British Nuclear Fuels Limited, British Energy plc and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. It is also responsible for administering coal health claims, the coal industry pension schemes, the relationship with the Coal Authority and the concessionary fuel scheme.
	The NCLU was created in 2002. It currently has a staff of 76 excluding secondees.

Post Office Closures (Tesco)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the Post Office was notified by Tesco of the proposed closure of the sub-post office on Lisieux Way, Taunton.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 16 March 2004
	I understand from Post Office Ltd. that formal written notice from Tesco was received on 3 March 2004.

Post Office Closures (Tesco)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what 
	(1)  assessment the Post Office has made of (a) Tesco's decision to close a number of post offices and (b) the impact it will have on the Network Re-invention proposals in (a) England and (b) Somerset;
	(2)  what discussions the Post Office has had with Tesco plc on their policy of closure of post offices in stores formerly run by T  S Stores plc.

Stephen Timms: holding answers 16 March 2004
	Discussions have been held between Post Office Ltd. and Tesco to determine what future plans Tesco has for its estate of stores containing post offices. Tesco is undertaking a site-by-site review, and in a minority of locations where they establish a Tesco Express format and the site is not consequently large enough also to operate a Post Office branch, they may wish to terminate the Post Office contract for the site in question.
	In its review, Tesco is committed to working closely with Post Office Ltd. and regular discussions are held.
	The removal of a post office branch from a Tesco owned store is not a permanent closure and Post Office Ltd. has given assurances that, where there remains a need for post office provision, it will look to relocate, in the same vicinity, offices that Tesco want to remove from its stores. Post Office Ltd. will consider whether to relocate or permanently close those offices on an individual basis.
	Any proposals for the permanent removal of post office provision can only be made by Post Office Ltd. in the context of a lack of viability, and requires a period of public consultation as agreed between Post Office Ltd. and the consumer body Postwatch before a decision is reached. At the end of its current programme to restructure the urban post office network, Post Office Ltd. will ensure that there will be a post office within a mile of at least 95 per cent. of the urban population nationally

Post Office Closures (Tesco)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many former T  S Stores plc post offices have been closed by Tesco since it took over T  S Stores plc;
	(2)  how many post offices there were in T  S Stores plc before takeover by Tesco plc.

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices that Tesco announced would be closed since it took over TS Stores have since been reprieved by Tesco.

Stephen Timms: holding answers 16 March 2004
	Tesco acquired the TS Group chain of convenience stores in October 2002 when in total 318 TS stores trading under the 'One Stop' and 'Billons' contained Post Office branches.
	In taking over TS, Tesco took over the Post Office contracts for the individual sites and has since been reviewing how many of these Post Offices will be retained. Tesco has committed to giving six months notice of its intention to terminate any contract, allowing Post Office Ltd. sufficient opportunity to find alternative partners to continue to offer post office services in close proximity to the existing location, and to working with all parties to seek a smooth changeover process for customers in the area where there remains a need for post office provision.
	As Post Office Ltd. has operational responsibility for the post office network, only it can propose permanent closure of a post office branch. I understand from the company that, to date, Tesco has given notice of its decision to terminate the post office contract in respect of 38 locations. In all cases the period of notice for withdrawing from the contract is still running and no closures have yet taken place. Any reversal of such a decision would be a commercial and operational matter for Tesco and Post Office Ltd.

Postwatch/Postwatch Scotland

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Postwatch Scotland is required to inform relevant stakeholders about (a) the lodging of an objection to a post office closure and (b) the withdrawal of such an objection.

Stephen Timms: There is no formal requirement for Postwatch to inform key stakeholders about the lodging of an objection to a post office closure and subsequent developments. But I understand that it is Postwatch policy to reply to key stakeholders who have contacted it about closure proposals and that Postwatch Scotland has written to the hon. Member.

Renewable Energy

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down, by programme, the budget for renewable energy for the period 200203 to 200506.

Stephen Timms: The DTI has announced 348 million of support for renewable energy for this period.
	Not all of this expenditure has yet been allocated to specific projects or programmes, but the following major allocations have been made:
	19 million per year for research, development, demonstration and promotion of renewable energy technologies
	Offshore wind capital grants117 million
	Biomass capital grants66 million
	Photovoltaics demonstration programme25 million
	Community and household projects10 million
	Wave and tidal projects5 million
	Embedded generation projects5 million.
	The figure of 348 million does not include Defra planting grants for energy crops or expenditure by the Research Councils on renewable energy related academic research.

Royal Mail Services

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Royal Mail's postage paid service in relation to (a) the fine imposed by Postcomm for next day delivery rate between April 2002 and March 2003 and (b) the drop in performance in next day delivery rate for the same service between April and December 2003, as cited in the Postcomm document dated 2 March.

Stephen Timms: The Postal services Act 2000 enables Postcomm to take enforcement action against Royal Mail where it believes it is likely to breach its licence obligation. A final order was issued in December 2002 requiring Royal Mail to use all reasonable endeavours to achieve its licence targets for 1st Class Postage Paid Impression and Response Services. These are both business products. Following Royal Mail's publication of its end of year results in May 2003, which showed that it had failed to achieve both these targets, Postcomm reached the view that Royal Mail had breached its licence and imposed a financial penalty in respect of this breach.
	I understand that with regard to performance in 200304, the first six months showed an overall improvement. Due to Industrial Action and a major fire at Northampton Mail Centre in Quarter 3 (Oct-Dec 2003), there was a serious deterioration in performance. Postcomm will consider what action should be taken against Royal Mail, which may include enforcement or imposition of financial penalties, once they have received Royal Mail's end of year results at the end of May 2004.

Small Business Research

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regional development agencies have established links with the Small Business Research Initiative; and what the nature of the co-operation is in each case.

Nigel Griffiths: The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) is a procurement measure designed to make it easier for smaller companies to win contracts for Government-funded research which will help them grow their businesses. The participants in SBRI are those Government Departments with significant spends on RD, and the Research Councils, rather than RDAs.

Trade Unions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to propose legislation to provide for (a) the right of trade unions to extend collective bargaining issues to include pensions, equality and training, (b) the right to be represented by a union representative in grievance and disciplinary hearings, (c) employment rights starting from the first day of employment, (d) the removal of thresholds required to be achieved to win trade union recognition, (e) recognition rights to companies of less than 21 workers, (f) a guaranteed right to strike without being in breach of contract, (g) qualifying criteria for non-independent unions to meet in order to gain recognition in an organisation, (h) an increase in penalties for those companies refusing to comply with reinstatement orders from tribunals and (i) the right of workers to be represented by the union of their choice; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government's policy in this area is set out in our Review of the Employment Relations Act 1999. Copies of the public consultation document (published in February 2003) and the Government response to consultation (published last December) are available in the Libraries of the House. Those findings of the Review that require primary legislation are being taken forward in the Employment Relations Bill currently before the House.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Airguns

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of owners of self-contained gas cartridge airguns who will apply for licences before becoming liable for prosecution under the terms of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003;
	(2)  what organisations he has met to discuss publicising the recent change in the law on self-contained gas cartridge airguns;
	(3)  what guidance he has issued to the police regarding the prosecution of those unaware that they will require a licence for possession of a self-contained gas cartridge airgun;
	(4)  which manufacturers of self-contained gas cartridge airguns have been sent publicity material by his Department on the recent change in the law on self-contained gas cartridge airguns; and how many posters and leaflets have been sent in each case;
	(5)  what information he has collated on the length of time it takes the police to process an application to license a self-contained gas cartridge airgun;
	(6)  how many posters and leaflets on the change in the law on self-contained gas cartridge airguns have been sent by his Department to (a) the British Association of Shooting and Conservation, (b) the National Small-bore Rifle Association, (c) the National Rifle Association, (d) the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association, (e) the Countryside Alliance, (f) the Airgun Manufacturers Trade Association, (g) the British Field Target Association, (h) the British Airgun Shooters Association, (i) the Gun Trade Association and (j) the Sportsman's Association;
	(7)  if he will extend the deadline for the coming into force of the recent change in the law on self-contained gas cartridge airguns to allow for extended publicity of the change in the law;
	(8)  how much funding his Department (a) allocated and (b) spent on publicising the recent change in the law on self-contained gas cartridge airguns;
	(9)  what information he has collated on the number of applications for licences to own self-contained gas cartridge airguns received by the police in each of the last five years, broken down by constabulary;
	(10)  when the provisions in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 relating to self-contained gas cartridge airguns will come into force;
	(11)  what the (a) minimum and (b) maximum penalties are for possession of a self-contained gas cartridge airgun under the provisions of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003;
	(12)  what information he has collated on the number of self-contained gas cartridge airguns handed into the police for destruction in each of the last five years, broken down by constabulary;
	(13)  what estimate he has made of the number of self-contained cartridge airguns in the United Kingdom;
	(14)  what discussions he has had with (a) the police and (b) the Court Service regarding the number of prosecutions for possession of an unlicensed self-contained gas cartridge airgun that can be expected after the relevant provisions in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 come fully into force;
	(15)  if he will list the manufacturers of self-contained gas cartridge airguns that have been sold in the UK; and what estimate he has made of how many such airguns have been sold by each manufacturer since 1989;
	(16)  what discussions his Department has had with Brococks to determine the number of self-contained gas cartridge airguns they have sold in the UK since 1989;
	(17)  whether the publicity material for the recent change in the law on self-contained gas cartridge airguns was also produced in Welsh.

Caroline Flint: A ban on the manufacture and sale of self-contained gas cartridge (SCGC) guns came into force on 20 January 2004. A ban on the possession of the guns comes into force on 30 April 2004. Anyone who possessed one on 20 January has until 30 April to apply for a firearms certificate if they wish to keep it. Unlawful possession of a SCGC gun carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.
	We estimated in our Regulatory Impact Assessment for the ban that between 50,000 and 70,000 SCGC guns had been sold in the UK. This was based on discussions between the Home Office and Brocock Ltd., who were the main importer/distributor of SCGC guns and who manufacture the cartridges they use. Not all of this number will still be in circulation and it is not possible at this stage to say how many will be certificated or surrendered. However, we will be collecting this information from the police after the 30 April deadline. SCGC guns were not previously subject to control and therefore none were certificated prior to the ban. It will not be possible therefore to say how many might have been destroyed or otherwise disposed of before the new laws came into effect.
	We estimated in our RIA that there would be about 15 prosecutions for unlawful possession of SCGC guns. A Home Office circular was issued to the police on 14 January giving guidance on the ban. No specific guidance was offered on prosecutions and we expect the police to consider each case on its merits.
	The ban has been widely publicised. It was announced in a press release and other publicity material for the Anti-social Behaviour Act, and was mentioned in the national media. More detailed coverage was given by the shooting press. After discussion with the police and the Gun Trade Association (GTA), the Home Office produced a range of publicity material explaining what owners must do if they want to keep their guns. A total of 2,500 posters and 50,000 leaflets were sent to police forces for display and further distribution as they saw fit. Another 2,400 posters and 240,000 leaflets were sent to GTA members and to other retailers likely to have stocked SCGC guns, together with 120,000 stickers to put on tins of air gun pellets. This was a national campaign and publicity material was not produced in Welsh. However, we are looking at what other publicity is necessary before the 30 April deadline and will consider the need for producing material in Welsh if this cannot be dealt with locally.
	In addition to money spent on publicising the new powers contained in the Anti-social Behaviour Act, we have so far spent 6,700 on the posters, leaflets and stickers related to the SCGC controls.
	We have allowed over three months for owners to apply for a certificate or to surrender their guns and do not think it necessary to extend that period. Although the length of time to process applications will vary between forces, this will not affect applicants. Anyone who applies before 30 April will not be liable for prosecution even if their application remains outstanding on that date or is the subject of an appeal.

Airguns

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what information he has collated on the number of self-contained gas cartridge airguns converted to fire live ammunition which have been recovered by the police in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(2)  what information he has collated on the number of people (a) killed and (b) injured by self-contained gas cartridge airguns converted to fire live ammunition in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: This information is not available centrally but I have arranged for the Forensic Science Service to interrogate their National Firearms Forensic Intelligence Database and will write to my hon. Friend with the results.

Animal Experiments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings the Home Office Inspectorate has held in the last six months at which discussions were held about scientific issues related to the use of animals in experiments; what plans the Home Office Inspectorate has to hold such discussions in the next six months; and what plans it has to invite organisations which argue scientifically against animal-based research for discussions.

Caroline Flint: The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate does not normally host or take a lead role in public meetings or meetings with external organisations on behalf of the Department, and there are no plans for it to do so.
	However, members of the Inspectorate are frequently involved in and contribute to Home Office and third-party meetings and events at which there is discussion of the use of animals in scientific procedures. These include twice yearly Inspectorate conferences to which guest speakers contribute, and meetings of expert groups considering specific topics, seminars and workshops on a range of issues (including meetings run by, or with contributions from, organisations that argue scientifically against animal-based research). The Inspectorate also participates in other local, national and international events (for example the Fourth World Congress on Alternatives).
	This will continue as an integral part of the Inspectorate's role, and will go on entailing dialogue with people and organisations covering a wide spectrum of opinion on use of animals in science. The Chief Inspector will for example be addressing MPs at a parliamentary event scheduled for 23 March 2004.
	The organisations to be invited to particular meetings or events in which the Inspectorate participates is determined by the specific nature of the occasion and the objectives of the organisers.

ASBOs

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued by (a) Hampshire Police and (b) local authorities in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in each of the last three years.

Hazel Blears: The police and local authorities have been able to apply for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) since their introduction on 1 April 1999. The Police Reform Act (2002) authorised the magistrates' courts and the Crown court to issue ASBOs on conviction, and the County courts (from 1 April 2003), to issue ASBOs on application. Data are given in the table of numbers of ASBOs issued, at all courts, within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, up to 30 September 2003 (latest available).
	Data are collected on the type of applicant only on those orders issued in the magistrates' court, acting in its civil capacity, and within the County courts. Orders can also be made following conviction of an offence in the criminal courtsthere is no applicant for these orders. Where applicable, data on the type of applicant are given in the following table.
	
		The number of ASBOs issued within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, at all courts, by period and applicant, 1January 2001 to 30September 2003 (latest available)
		
			  Applications by 
			 Period/localauthorityarea. Unknown Police Local authority County courts Total 
		
		
			 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001 2  4 n/a 6 
			 1 January 2002 to 30 November 2002(26)   8 n/a 8 
			 1 December 2002 to 30 September 2003 1  16 17 17 
			 Total 3  28 31 31 
		
	
	
		
			  Issued where the applicant was 
			 Period/local authorityarea. Police Local authority County courts Total 
		
		
			 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001  4 n/a 4 
			 1 January 2002 to 30 November 2002(25)  8 n/a 8 
			 1 December 2002 to 30 September 2003  16  16 
			 Total  28  28 
		
	
	n/a = Not applicable.
	(25) Following implementation of the Police Reform Act (2002) data for December 2002 are included in the first quarter 2003.
	Note:
	Petty Sessional Area known only.

Asylum Seekers

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the removal system for failed asylum seekers.

Beverley Hughes: The Government are committed to tackling abuse of our asylum system by detecting and enforcing the removal of those who fail to comply with our immigration laws. Future plans include increasing detention facilities, working with overseas countries to resolve documentation issues, streamlining our appeals process and developing alternative sources of information and intelligence with other Government agencies. We will continue to review our strategy and pursue new initiatives in order to improve the removal process, our aim being to remove a greater proportion of failed asylum seekers in 200304 than in 200203.

Asylum Seekers

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of how many children will go into care each year under the provisions of Clause 7 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc.) Bill.

Beverley Hughes: There is nothing in the Bill which changes in any way the grounds on which children may be taken into care. The Bill simply provides that families, illegally resident in the UK once their claims have failed, would no longer be entitled to support at the expense of the taxpayer if they refuse to co-operate with efforts to return them home. If, by putting themselves in this position, parents put their children at risk, it would be for the local authority to decide how the interests of their children should be protected under existing child protection legislation. We do not believe, that many, if any, parents would put their children in this position.

Cannabis

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the objectives of his Department's campaign to advertise the reclassification of cannabis were; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the campaign against its objectives.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 15 March 2004
	The Home Office cannabis radio advertising campaign aimed to raise awareness of the reclassification of cannabis and to communicate that cannabis is illegal and will remain illegal after reclassification, and that it is harmful. The primary audience is under 18s.
	The advertising is one strand of a wide range of communication activity that includes leaflets, postcards and education packs for schools and professionals.
	The campaign is currently being evaluated using a specialist independent research agency who have conducted pre and post tracking research with a national sample of 1417s.

CCTV (Crosby)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public funding has been spent on CCTV security cameras in Crosby since 1997.

Hazel Blears: In 200102, the Sefton MBC area was awarded a total of 636,306 to fund the development of four CCTV schemes in the Town Centres of Bootle, Southport and Crosby, and on the major arterial route of South Road (Waterloo/Crosby).
	The Crosby Town Centre Surveillance Project received 108,671 to monitor the town centre, especially in relation to alcohol consumption and day time theft as well as addressing the supply and use of illegal drugs, the congregating of young people and the consequences of underage drinking. The South Road Project, on the border of Waterloo and Crosby, received 185,487 for installation of cameras around bus and railway stations to address specific concerns on car crime, as well as assaults and criminal damage around licensed premises and in the Marine Park. Together these schemes attracted 294,158.
	These schemes will be further enhanced by the imminent installation of a further CCTV camera on the edge of the shopping area in Crosby receiving 20,000 support from Small Retailers in Deprived Areas funding.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 27 January 2004 with regard to Mr.Guhar Ali Khan.

David Blunkett: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 15 March 2004.

Crime Reduction Policy

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Written Statement of 10 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1012WS, on crime and disorder reduction partnerships, if he will list the grants each partnership will receive; when they will receive them; and what the process of distribution will be.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 15 March 2004
	Individual funding allocations under the Building Safer Communities (BSC) Fund was circulated to Government Offices, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs), Drug Action Teams, Local Authority Chief Executives and Chief Officers of Police on 10 March. This followed my Written Ministerial Statement of the same day.
	CDRPs will continue to claim their grant moneys on a quarterly basis beginning in the first quarter of 200405 (Year 2 of the fund). Payments are made directly into local authority bank accounts following approval of their quarterly grant claims during the financial year. It is then the responsibility of local authorities to ensure further payments are made as required to other agencies and groups in accordance with the CDRPs' agreed plans.
	I am placing copies of the full allocations table in the Library.

Crime Reduction Policy

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the contribution of situational crime prevention techniques to recent reductions in crime.

Hazel Blears: It is not possible to quantify the contribution of situational crime prevention to the recent reduction in crime. This is because situational crime prevention encompasses a wide range of initiatives that aim to make crime more difficult, more risky and less rewarding. There is recent evidence on the effectiveness of some forms of situational crime prevention in this country (for example, alley-gating and CCTV). Results from the British Crime Survey also provide evidence that domestic households that own security measures have a lower chance of being a victim of burglary, even when factors that might be related to both risk and security are taken into account. Recent sweeps of the British Crime Survey have shown that household ownership of a range of security measures is increasing. It is therefore reasonable to think that this may have contributed to the reduction in property crimes over recent years.
	Burglary
	A major evaluation of some 300 of the local burglary reduction schemes in Phase I of the Safer Cities Programme (198895) showed typically a 1030 per cent. reduction in burglary. It was estimated (with results scaled up to the entire programme) that these, mainly situational, measures prevented some 56,000 burglaries, whose cost to victims and the state would have been 62 million, for expenditure of under 7 million. An evaluation in West Yorkshire of housing incorporating Secured By Design standards (a national police-led certification scheme) showed a crime rate that was 56 per cent. lower, and there is evidence that as well as being effective, this approach is now becoming cost-effective.
	One of the most extensive and recent uses of situational crime prevention techniques has been under the Home Office's Reducing Burglary Initiative. Such techniques were employed in the majority of the 247 projects funded between 1999 and 2002. 63 of these projects were subject to a full independent evaluation under Phase I of the initiative. The interim report on these evaluations (Home Office Findings 204, 'Reducing Burglary Initiative, early findings on burglary reduction', published in 2003) reported that situational crime prevention techniqueswhen planned, targeted, and implemented successfullywere an effective crime reduction measure. The report highlighted that in the 55 evaluated projects where figures were available, domestic burglary fell by 20 per cent. compared with a pre-project period. This represented a net reduction of 7 per cent. when taking into account the downward trend in burglary found in selected comparison areas.
	Four illustrative case studies drawn from the evaluations were published as appendices to the interim report. In all four of these case studies situational crime prevention techniques were considered to have contributed to the observed crime reduction impact. Net burglary reduction in these projects ranged from -12 per cent. to -47 per cent.
	However, the interim findings also highlighted the fact that burglary reduction projects were often most effective when they were basednot just on a single approach (such as situational crime prevention)but on a package of coherent and complementary approaches, including short and long-term measures.
	Vehicle crime
	Home Office Research Study 266, 'An evaluation of the secured car park award scheme', was also published in 2003, this being an evaluation of a scheme established by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in September 1992. It was designed to encourage car park operators to improve security as a means of reducing criminal activity and the fear of crime in car parks and vehicle retention areas. Results showed that there is evidence that the scheme can help reduce the level of vehicle crime and fear of crime in car parks, when targeted at high crime car parks. The key measures that impact both on crime levels and fear of crime appear to be formal surveillance (including patrols), lighting, access control and the physical appearance of the car park.
	Security improvements by manufacturers of new cars are also thought to have been a key factor in reduced levels of car thefts, with compulsory fitting of electronic immobilisers since October 1998, together with other design improvements such as central-locking.
	CCTV
	A systematic review of the impact of CCTV (Home Office Research Study 252, 'Crime prevention effects of closed circuit television: a systematic review') was published in 2002. This indicated that CCTV was associated with a 41 per cent. reduction in crime in car parks, but provided little evidence of an effect in other settings. Other evaluations show CCTV is most effective when used as part of a wider local crime reduction strategy.
	A Home Office funded National Evaluation of CCTV is on-going. Initial findings on implementation from this evaluation were published in 2003 in Home Office Development and Practice Report 7 'National Evaluation of CCTV: early findings on scheme implementationeffective practice guide'. Results relating to the impact of CCTV on crime are not yet available from this evaluation but are expected towards the end of 2004. Robbery
	The Street Crime Initiative was launched in April 2002 to address rises in street crime in 200102. It covers the 10 police force areas which together account for the great majority of street crime. Intelligence-led policing in hotspots in the 10 police force areas contributed to a 17 per cent. reduction in robbery in those 10 areas in 200203, which means 17,000 fewer offences in those areas.
	A pilot scheme is being run by Greater Manchester Police to address crime at automated teller machines (ATMs), by creating defensible spaces around ATMs, to demarcate the area of personal space of the person using the ATM. This makes the potential victim of street crime more spatially aware, and increases the risk to the offender by alerting the ATM user to invasion of defensible space by the offender. Initial findings from the pilot indicate that robbery and theft from the person has fallen at the sites where the scheme is being piloted. There was a 34 per cent. reduction in robbery and theft from the person across the 21 sites in Manchester where the defensible space pilot is running, comparing the six months from 21 December 2002 to 30 June 2003 with the same period in the previous year.

Criminal Records Bureau

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what compensation is given to schools that incur costs to cover classes while new teachers were awaiting Criminal Records Bureau clearance.

Hazel Blears: The Criminal Records Bureau has paid no compensation to schools that incurred such costs.

Disorder Penalty Notices

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to extend the penalty notice for disorder pilot to all forces.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, announced on 14 May 2003 that roll out of the penalty notice for disorder scheme was to be brought forward in view of the positive early results from the pilots. The scheme will be in place in all police forces in England and Wales by 1 April this year.

DNA

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which companies act as suppliers of DNA profiles to the National DNA Database.

Hazel Blears: There are five organisations which are approved suppliers of DNA profiles to The National DNA Database, they are:
	Forensic Science Service;
	LGC;
	Cellmark;
	Tayside Police Forensic Science Laboratory;
	Strathclyde Police Forensic Science Laboratory.

DNA

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how intellectual property rights relating to DNA sequences in samples stored by suppliers to the National DNA Database are assigned; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: There are no intellectual property rights relating to DNA sequences in samples kept in storage by suppliers to The National DNA Database. Intellectual property rights are associated with the techniques used to process the samples when generating DNA profiles. The samples retained in storage are the property of the individual police forces that submit them to the laboratories.

DNA

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many research projects have been (a) approved and (b) refused by the National DNA Database Board since 1995.

Hazel Blears: Since 1995, five research proposals have been submitted to the National DNA Database Board for consideration. Of these two were approved, two rejected and one is pending a decision.

DNA

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many research projects involving (a) behavioural genetics and (b) ethnic or racial profiling have been approved by the National DNA Database Board since 1995.

Hazel Blears: No research projects involving behavioural genetics have been approved by the National DNA Database Board (NDNAD). Two projects relating to identification of individuals on ethnic or familial basis have been approved by the NDNAD Board.

DNA

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many research projects using the National DNA Database (a) records and (b) samples have sought the informed consent of participants since 1995.

Hazel Blears: Neither of the research projects approved by the National DNA Database Board using database records, or the DNA samples collected for the database, have sought the informed consent of participants.

DNA

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what suppliers of profiles to the National DNA Database have undertaken research projects using (a) the database and (b) DNA samples collected for the database since 1995.

Hazel Blears: Only the Forensic Science Service have undertaken research projects using either the database or the DNA samples collected for it.

DNA

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many patent applications have been (a) made and (b) granted relating to research projects approved by the National DNA Database Board since 1995.

Hazel Blears: To date there have been no patent applications made relating to research projects approved by the National DNA Database Board.

DNA

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide summaries of all the research projects approved by the National DNA Database Board since 1995.

Hazel Blears: Arrangements will be made for summaries of the research projects that have been approved by the National DNA Database Board to be placed in the House of Commons Library once they have been completed and the reports signed-off.

DNA

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the merits of compiling a national DNA database including records for (a) all those convicted of an offence, (b) all those charged with an offence, (c) all those entering the UK for the purposes of employment or residence, (d) all those entering the UK for any purpose and (e) all newborn babies.

Hazel Blears: The National DNA database currently holds profiles of all those charged with, informed they will be reported for or convicted of a recordable offence. From 5 April this year, when new provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 come into force, the database will also hold DNA profiles from persons arrested for a recordable offence.
	There are no plans at present to extend the database further.

Drugs

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hits have been recorded on the www.talktofrank.com website.

Caroline Flint: From its inception on the 23 May 2003 to the 23 January 2004, the FRANK website talktofrank.com has received 1,485,111 visits.

Drugs

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) calls and (b) e-mails have been received by the Talk to Frank team; and how many (i) calls and (ii) e-mails have been sent by the Talk to Frank team to members of the public.

Caroline Flint: Since the launch of the Frank drug awareness campaign on the 23 May 2003, to the end of January 2004, the Frank helpline has taken 223,310 calls. The Frank website talktofrank.com, has also received and responded to 18,934 emails. The Frank telephone advisors do not initiate calls to the public.

Drugs

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public funds were spent on tackling drugs misuse in Crosby in (a) 199798 and (b) 200304.

Caroline Flint: The information is as follows:
	
		
			 Sefton drugs allocation199798  
		
		
			 Local Health Authority Block contracts 728,671 
			 JMU Database 20,000 
			 Pharmacy costs 100,000 
			 Social Work team 100,000 
			 Drug Misuse special allocation from DoH 374,000 
		
	
	In 200304 the total drugs allocation was 3,017,763. This figure includes new funding streams as part of the National Drug Strategy (please see following table), the two years are therefore not directly comparable. Breakdown of financial allocation to local constituencies is not available in the form requested as funding is allocated to Drug Action Team areas (Sefton).
	
		
		
			 National Drug Strategy 200304 
		
		
			 Partnership Capacity 71,500 
			 Treatment Pooled Budget 1,336,000 
			 Through Care After Care Pump Priming 35,000 
			 Building Safer Communities(26) 484,700 
		
	
	(26) Contains non drug elements

DrugScope

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much grant was given to DrugScope in 200304; and what evaluation has been made of its work.

Caroline Flint: Central Government Departments have committed a total of 988,000 to DrugScope in 200304. This includes grants totalling 754,000 and contracts let by the Home Office, Department of Health, Department for Education and Skills and Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Figures are based upon Departmental accounting systems and do not include all payments for consultancy work.
	All grants and contracts are subject to terms and conditions that specify required deliverables and management arrangements to ensure these are delivered. The DrugScope Programme Liaison Group meets quarterly to review progress on all Government funded activity and to quality assure work. The Group comprises representatives of funding Departments and DrugScope.

Forensic Science Service

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasions Serco personnel have been invited to the Forensic Science Service establishments in the last year; and for what purpose.

Hazel Blears: SERCO consultants spent approximately 10 days at the Forensic Science Services (FSS) offices at Trident Court, Birmingham. They were providing advice about plans for a new commercial department to improve FSS responses to police tenders. Visits were made to the FSS premises in London for the same purpose.
	In addition, as part of a programme of staff briefings, the HR Director of the National Physical Laboratory, a Government owned contractor operated by Serco, visited the FSS laboratories to provide staff with a view of the transition from public to private sector, with particular regard to arrangements for pensions and terms and conditions of service including pensions.

Huntingdon Life Sciences

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what severity limits were allocated to (a) Study DKN 112/033062 and (b) Study DKN 137/033686 conducted at Huntingdon Life Sciences; what his Department's assessment was of the potential benefits of these studies; and how his Department arrived at this assessment.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 8 March 2004
	The severity limits assigned to the protocols relating to these studies, as set out in Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (HC321), were respectively moderate and substantial. The potential benefit in both cases was determination of the toxicity of certain compounds and risks they might pose to man and the environment. Decisions on whether and on what terms to license such studies are informed by professional assessments made by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate in accordance with relevant parts of section five of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The aim has been to ensure that animal use only occurs when justified, and that in those circumstances animal suffering in such studies is minimised, consistent with satisfactorily achieving the scientific purpose.

Identity Cards

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether personal data stored on a national identity database will be exported or made available abroad.

Beverley Hughes: As set out in Identity Cards: The Next Steps (Cm 6020), disclosure of information held on the National Identity Register would only be authorised in specific circumstances. Such disclosure would be subject to legal and procedural safeguards and independent oversight. There are no plans to authorise disclosure of information from the National Identity Register to overseas organisations.

Impairment Tests

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the impairment tests which do not require the use of equipment will be introduced; and when the code of practice will be published.

Caroline Flint: We expect impairment tests which do not require the use of equipment to detect drivers who are under the influence of drugs to be introduced later this year. A Code of Practice is currently under preparation and will be published prior to the introduction of the tests.

International Rights Covenant

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what cross-departmental discussions involving his Department have taken place regarding the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights.

Fiona Mactaggart: I am not aware of any cross-Whitehall discussions about the Covenant involving Home Office Ministers or officials. My Officials, along with officials in other Government Departments whose responsibilities are covered by the Covenant, contributed to the UK's last report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the implementation of the UK's obligations under the Covenant in January 2001. Following the UN Committee's recommendations in 2002, my officials contributed, in Spring 2003, to the Government's submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights' inquiry into how the Government are taking forward the UN Committee's recommendations. The Home Office's primary responsibility covered by the Covenant concerns racial discrimination.

National Dog Register

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reinstate a national dog register.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 16 March 2004
	There are no plans to do so.

Online Crime Reporting

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many minor crimes have been reported online in each year since the service became available.

Hazel Blears: The Police Information Technology Organisation, which hosts the minor crimes online reporting facility through www.police.uk, informs me that the service became available in May 2001. There were 2,009 reports completed by the public from then until the end of the 2001 calendar year. There were 13,774 completed reports in 2002, 14,982 in 2003 and 2,318 in the first two months of this year.

Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accidents involving police vehicles took place in each London borough in 2003.

Caroline Flint: Information on the number of police vehicle accidents broken down by individual London boroughs is not collected centrally.
	The Metropolitan Police Service does, however, record collisions involving police vehicles and the table attached has been provided by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

Police

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in England and Wales in (a) May 1993 and (b) May 1997.

Hazel Blears: On 30 May 1993 there were 127,969 police officers in England and Wales. Between April 1995 and March 2002 police strength was collected only twice a year (March and September). In March 1997 police strength had decreased to 127,158.
	There were 49,554 police (support) staff in May 1993. This had increased to 53,011 by March 1997.

Police

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the reasons for requiring the returns of police officer numbers from constabularies for the purpose of his recent announcement on a different basis to the normal quarterly and annual return provided to his office by constabularies;
	(2)  how many police officers there are per force on the basis of the normal quarterly and annual returns provided by constabularies to his Department.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics Directorate collects, analyses and publishes a full and detailed breakdown of numbers of police officers and other police staff.
	However given the substantial investment that this Government has made to increase police officer numbers, Ministers have, from time to time sought separate reports on progress being made on the delivery of our aim to increase strength and police visibility through the Crime Fighting Fund.
	Reports were sought for January 2001, January 2002 and August 2003 and for December 2003. These reports are based on information which forces have readily to hand on how many police officers they currently employ and should not create a significant additional burden for forces.
	The following table provides information on police officers strength on 30 September 2003, which was published on 2 March 2004.
	
		Police Officer strength as at 30September 2003
		
			  Actual policeoffice strength (27)All officers 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 3,328 3,273 
			 Bedfordshire 1,164 1,147 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,415 1,406 
			 Cheshire 2,189 2,152 
			 Cleveland 1,616 1,603 
			 Cumbria 1,193 1,171 
			 Derbyshire 2,061 2,049 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3,286 3,259 
			 Dorset 1,423 1,401 
			 Durham 1,684 1,668 
			 Essex 3,074 3,055 
			 Gloucestershire 1,258 1,245 
			 Greater Manchester 7,724 7,653 
			 Hampshire 3,763 3,704 
			 Hertfordshire 2,080 2,057 
			 Humberside 2,188 2,170 
			 Kent 3,539 3,538 
			 Lancashire 3,512 3,475 
			 Leicestershire 2,211 2,180 
			 Lincolnshire 1,231 1,214 
			 London, City of 815 813 
			 Merseyside 4,149 4,129 
			 Metropolitan Police 29,257 28,951 
			 Norfolk 1,520 1,513 
			 North Yorkshire 1,481 1,471 
			 Northamptonshire 1,258 1,236 
			 Northumbria 4,039 4,016 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,455 2,438 
			 South Yorkshire 3,222 3,193 
			 Staffordshire 2,260 2,243 
			 Suffolk 1,306 1,299 
			 Surrey 1,977 1,960 
			 Sussex 3,028 2,973 
			 Thames Valley 4,049 3,982 
			 Warwickshire 986 983 
			 West Mercia 2,379 2,367 
			 West Midlands 7,960 7,913 
			 West Yorkshire 5,230 5,202 
			 Wiltshire 1,242 1,236 
			 Dyfed Powys 1,158 1,155 
			 Gwent 1,347 1,340 
			 North Wales 1,597 1,593 
			 South Wales 3,286 3,256 
			 Total 43 forces 135,938 134,683 
			 NCS 1,179 1,179 
			 NCIS 262 262 
			 Other secondments 673 673 
			 Total 138,052 136,797 
		
	
	(27) Less staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave (comparable with previously published figures)

Police

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what his Department estimates would be the necessary increase in funding to Leicestershire Police Authority to rectify the current budget deficit;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the current financial position of the Leicestershire Police Authority; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the funding shortfalls to police authorities in England and Wales.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 23 February 2004
	All police authorities in England and Wales will receive a 3.25 per cent. increase in general grants in 200405, above the police pay award increase of 3 per cent. and general inflation projections of 2.6 per cent.
	The arrangement was made to ensure that all police authorities receive a reasonable increase. In addition, funding is provided for a range of targeted programmes and capital provision.
	Leicestershire Police Authority will receive general grant funding of 102.0 million in 200405, an increase of 3.2 million. On top of this, it will receive over 10 million for targeted programmes and capital provision.
	Leicestershire have set a final budget of 138.1 million for 200405, an increase of 6.1 per cent. over this year. The police authority's decision will have taken into account grant allocations.

Police

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how much in (a) percentage and (b) cash terms Leicestershire Police grant has increased in each year from 199798 to 200405.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 23 February 2004
	The information is set out in the table.
	
		
			  Generalgovernment grants (28) , (29)  Increase 
			   million  million Percentage 
		
		
			 199798 83.9   
			 199899 85.3 1.4 1.6 
			 199900 87.9 2.6 3.0 
			 200001 90.6 2.7 3.1 
			 200102 94.6 4.0 4.4 
			 200102(30) 92.2   
			 200203 94.5 2.3 2.5 
			 200304 98.8 4.3 4.5 
			 200405 102.0 3.2 3.3 
		
	
	(28) General Government Grants comprise Home Office police grant, ODPM Revenue Support Grant and National Non-Domestic Rates.
	(29) In addition to general grants, Leicestershire benefited from funding from the Crime Fighting Fund, Rural Policing Fund, Basic Command Unit funding, Community Support Officer funding, Special Priority Payments, Airwave, the DNA Expansion Programme, capital grant (excluding Supplementary Credit Approvals) and the Premises Improvement Fund. 0.9 million in 199798, 0.8 million in 199899, 1.1 million in 19992000, 2.0 million in 200001, 8.4 million in 200102, 6.3 million in 200203, 8.5 million in 200304 and an estimated 8.8 million in 200405.
	(30) Figures for 200102 are not directly comparable with 200203 due to the change in the funding arrangements of NCS and NCIS. Adjusted figures for 200102 are therefore included in the table.

Police

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether revenues raised from speed cameras were included in the calculation of the Thames Valley police budget for (a) 200203 and (b) 200304.

Caroline Flint: Revenue raised from speed cameras is not taken into account in the setting of Police grant or local budgets.
	Fines and fixed penalties for speeding offences, like those for all other criminal offences, are paid to the Treasury. Some fixed penalty income from speed limit enforcement by camera can be netted off, but its use is very strictly ring-fenced for the purposes of meeting expenditure incurred in the prevention or detection of speeding, or red light, offences or in the enforcement of or proceedings in respect of such offences. The netting-off provides for cost-recovery only and furnishes no income for other purposes.

Safe Third Countries

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers he will bring forward to remove a country from the list of safe third countries.

Beverley Hughes: Schedule 3 to the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill takes a differentiated approach toward human rights challenges against removal to safe third countries by providing for three lists. Part 6 of the Schedule provides for the removal of a State from lists at Parts 3 and 4 by Order subject to annulment by resolution of either House of Parliament. The Government does not consider it necessary to provide a similar Ordermaking power in relation to removal of a State from the list at Part 2. We intend that this list should be limited to European Union Member States which are party to the Dublin arrangements for determining the State responsible for examining an asylum application and other states such as Norway and Iceland, which are associated with those arrangements.

School Buses (Sex Offenders)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  in what circumstances a convicted sex offender would be able to drive a school bus without having a Criminal Records Bureau check performed on them;
	(2)  whether a person employed by a local authority to drive a school bus would be required to have a Criminal Records Bureau check before taking up the job.

Hazel Blears: Part 5 of the Police Act 1997, under which the Criminal Records Bureau has been established, imposes no requirement for checks to be carried out, but sets out eligibility for a Disclosure. Eligibility criteria for a Standard Disclosure include all persons whose duties include caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children. Those whose duties regularly involve such elements are eligible for an Enhanced Disclosure. In some instances, checks have been made mandatory under other legislation. Where Checks are not mandatory, it is open to the employer to require that checks are carried out. Consideration is being given to the issue of guidance by the Department for Education and Skills as regards school transport arrangements. The activities, including employment, of a convicted sex offender who is on the sex offenders register would be monitored by the police who, if a risk is identified, would take appropriate action.

Suspended Prison Officers

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of the case brought against the prison officers Mr. Rowland, Mr. Kerry and Mr. Watkins by the Prison Service.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 26 January 2004
	I understand from the Chief Constable of Kent Constabulary that estimated costs to the force to investigate this case were under 10,000.

Tetra

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates he has made of the cost of introducing the Tetra telecommunication system for the Police Authority in Wales in each year from 200304 to 200506; and what proportion of this funding has been made available by the Home Office.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office has provided 4.7 million in 200304 to police forces in Wales and will provide 5.5 million in 200405. This fully meets the costs of the nationally agreed core Airwave service in Wales and provides additional funding for capital expenditure and optional features required by individual forces. Estimated costs of the core service in Wales for 200506 are 6.7 million. The Home Office contribution in 200506 has not yet been finalised.

Tetra

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Government resources have been expended on the 02 Airwave Tetra project, including preparatory work.

Hazel Blears: The total expenditure on the Airwave police radio system from 200001 to 200304 is 394.5 million. This includes 02 service costs of 117.2 million and setting-up costs of 277.3 million.

Tetra

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budgetary provision has been made for further expenditure by the United Kingdom Government on the O2 Airwave Tetra project.

Hazel Blears: The Spending Reviews SR2000 and SR2002 provided baseline funding for the Airwave service. SR2004 includes provision for the Home Office to continue funding the nationally agreed core Airwave service for police forces in England and Wales. Government will contribute to Airwave core costs in Scotland under the Barnett formula as prescribed by Her Majesty's Treasury. The Home Office is also providing 10 million to forces in Scotland to support the introduction of Airwave in 200405.

Tetra

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account was taken of the precautionary principle in the setting of the United Kingdom safety limit on Tetra.

Hazel Blears: The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has statutory responsibility for setting safety limits on exposure to electromagnetic field radiation in the UK. The recent NRPB consultation document included sections on the application of the precautionary principle to the determination of guidelines for exposure to electromagnetic radiation from 0 to 300 GHz. No specific mention of Tetra is made in those sections.

Tetra

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has been involved in discussions with third countries about Tetra.

Hazel Blears: Tetra is a European standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. Home Office technical experts have participated as UK representatives in the development of the Tetra standard.

Tetra

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which emergency services for which his Department is responsible do not use the Tetra system.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office is responsible for the police service in England and Wales. All police forces in England and Wales will use the new Tetra radio system.

Tetra

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account was taken of the non-thermal effects of Tetra radiation, such as low-frequency pulsing, by his Department prior to the setting of the United Kingdom safety limit on Tetra radiation.

Hazel Blears: The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) is responsible for setting safety limits for radiation hazards in the UK. In 2001, The Home Office asked the Board of NRPB to provide advice on any health implications of Tetra technology. The Board of NRPB subsequently asked its independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (Agnir) to examine the issue.
	The Agnir report on Possible health effects from Tetra was published in June 2001. The report concluded that although areas of uncertainty remain about the biological effects of low level radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in general, including modulated signals, current evidence suggests that it is unlikely that the special features of the signals from Tetra mobile terminals pose a hazard to health. Agnir also noted that the signals from Tetra base stations are not pulsed whereas those from mobile terminals and repeaters are. Hence there is no reason to believe that exposure to the signals from Tetra base stations should be treated any differently to the exposure to signals from other base stations. The Agnir report on Tetra has been considered by NRPB in the current review of its advice on safety limits for exposure to electromagnetic fields with frequencies from 0 to 300 GHz.

Tetra

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who he consulted prior to the setting of the UK's safety limit on Tetra radiation.

Hazel Blears: In the UK, the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) is responsible for setting safety limits on exposure to electromagnetic fields. Safety limits are not technology-specific.
	The NRPB has recently carried out a comprehensive review of exposure guidelines and a consultation document was published in May 2003. Comments were received from a range of stakeholders, including government departments. The comments have been used in the preparation of updated advice to government, which NRPB expects to publish around the end of March 2004.

Tetra

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department received adverse comment on the proposed UK safety limit on Tetra radiation.

Hazel Blears: The Airwave Tetra radio system used by the police fully complies with the safety limits set by the National Radiological Protection Board. We have received no adverse comments on the UK safety limits set by the National Radiological Protection Board.

Tetra

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he received from the Scottish Executive prior to the setting of the UK safety limit on Tetra radiation.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office has had no representations from the Scottish Executive on this issue, which is a matter for the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). The NRPB is currently reviewing its advice to Government on non-ionising radiation at frequencies from 0 to 300 GHz, which includes Tetra radiation. The Scottish Executive had the opportunity to respond to the NRPB public consultation document issued in May 2003.

Tetra

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission an urgent review of the health implications of Tetra radiation.

Hazel Blears: In 2001, the Home Office asked the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) for advice on the health aspects of Tetra technology. The NRPB's independent Advisory Board on Non-ionising Radiation (Agnir) published its report on Possible health effects from Tetra in June 2001. The conclusions of the Agnir experts were upheld in their recently published follow-up to the Stewart report, Health effects from radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. In particular they confirm that there is no reason to believe that signals from Tetra base stations should be treated differently to those from other base stations. There are no plans to commission any further reviews.

Tetra

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research commissioned by the Government is being carried out concerning Tetra radiation.

Hazel Blears: On the recommendation of independent experts, the Home Office set up a comprehensive programme of work on Tetra health issues. The Home Office also funds Tetra-related research as an adjunct to the Mobile Telecommunications Research Programme co-ordinated by the Department of Health. No adverse effects of Tetra have been found. Biological studies carried out by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory have shown that Tetra has no effect on calcium exchanges in cellsthe main concern raised about this type of technology. Longer-term human volunteer studies are under way. Further information is available on the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs/tetra.html.

Travel Documents

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to ensure that passengers with inadequate documents are intercepted on their arrival in the UK.

Beverley Hughes: Measures to intercept passengers with inadequate documents on their arrival in the UK include risk-assessing all incoming flights, conducting intelligence-led document checks, observing passengers as they disembark from aircraft and ad hoc special exercises sometimes involving other agencies and at certain locations using CCTV.
	At the main arrivals control, passengers are interviewed and their documents examined to detect impostors and to identify forged or counterfeit passports or passengers without the requisite entry clearance.
	In addition we have strategies in place to prevent passengers with inadequate documents arriving in the UK. These include the use of pre-entry controls in France (Juxtaposed controls), new detection technology screening equipment to detect clandestine entrants and Airline Liaison Officers (ALOs) who offer advice to airlines on the validity of travel documents held by passengers.
	The Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Bill, currently before Parliament, includes proposals to make disposing of travel documents without reasonable excuse a criminal offence.

Travel Documents

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the evaluation of the Netherlands' powers to require carriers to copy travel documents; and how this has influenced the Department's proposals.

Beverley Hughes: Officials have been in contact with colleagues in The Netherlands and will continue to liaise with them as necessary. The system in The Netherlands works differently from the system the Government are proposing; a separate evaluation would, therefore, be of limited value at present. We will, however, consider the comparative effectiveness of the system in The Netherlands as part of the evaluation process of the Home Office trial.

United States (Visa Vetting)

Iain Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities are granted to the US Department of Homeland Security to share information on criminal convictions required for the vetting of UK citizens on their entry to the US under the visa waiver scheme.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 February 2006
	The US Government has not asked to routinely share criminal record information. A request for such information on an individual basis may be considered by the police.

DEFENCE

Continuous Attitudes Survey

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many times per annum the questions and response options included in the Continuous Attitudes Survey for the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Army and (c) RAF are reviewed; how often they have been changed in the last three years; and if he will list the changes made per annum;
	(2)  when the questions and response options included in the Continuous Attitudes Survey for the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Army and (c) RAF were last changed; what these changes were; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: A major review of the Royal Navy Continuous Attitude Survey (CAS) is conducted once a year. Changes are made between each survey as is felt necessary. In the Army a full review of CAS is undertaken once a year, while in the RAF, questions and response options are in effect under continuous review, with questions being added, deleted or amended as required in support of policy initiatives.
	I will write to the hon. Gentleman with further details and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Defence Agencies

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) expenditure and (b) number of staff employed for each defence agency and organisation in (i) Wales and (ii) England in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: Figures relating to civilian personnel employed in Ministry of Defence agencies and Trading Funds are detailed in the following tables 1 and 2 together with appropriate footnotes. Service personnel figures and information relating to manning costs of agencies and Trading Funds is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		Civilian staff strengths(31) , (32) , (33)  -- Table 1civilian personnelEngland
		
			  1 April 1997 1 April 1998 1 April 1999 1 April 2000 1 April 2001 1 April 2002 1 April 2003 1 April 2004 
		
		
			 Ministry of Defence (less agencies and Trading Funds) 37,030 34,160 36,600 29,550 28,060 28,710 32,550 31,910 
			 Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency(34) 840 110 100 120 110 120 150 140 
			 Army Base Repair Organisation(35) 2,750 2,540 2,360 2,360 2,450 1,920 1,830 1,730 
			 Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency(36) 3,640 3,320   
			 Army Personnel Centre(37) 580 20 10 40 50 70 100 110 
			 Army Technical Support Authority(38) 800 810 760  
			 Army Training and Recruitment Agency(39)  4,220 3,980 4,030 4,010 3,970 4,000 4,000 
			 British Forces Post Office(40) 310 310 310 330 320 320 340 330 
			 Defence Analytical Services Agency(41) 120 120 100 120 130 140 140 150 
			 Defence Animal Centre(42) 60 60   
			 Defence Aviation Repair Agency(43)   1,080 1,110 1,030 1,020 980 900 
			 Defence Bills Agency(44) 650 670 630 600 580 580 590 580 
			 Defence Clothing and Textile Agency(45) 460 380 310  
			 Defence Codification Agency(46) 10 10   
			 Defence Communications Service Agency(47)  470 570 1,310 2,730 2,780 2,930 2,790 
			 Defence Dental Agency(48) 110 140 150 170 (86) 160 160 170 
			 Defence Estates(49) 1,020 980 1,060 1,050 1,170 1,180 1,290 1,210 
			 Defence Evaluation and Research Agency(50) 9,240 9,920 9,700 10,160 10,130
			 Defence Geographic Imagery Intelligence Agency(51)840 750 690 760 790 
			 Defence Housing Executive(52)   850 810 830 810 650 630 
			 Defence Intelligence and Security Centre(53) 90 120 130 140 130 140 140 140 
			 Defence Medical Education and Training Agency(54)   620 590 
			 Defence Medical and Training Organisation(55)  100 160 160 170 170 190 590 
			 Defence Procurement Agency(56)3,650 3,440 3,510 3,440 3,550 
			 Defence Science and Technology Laboratory(57)  2,590 2,740 2,890 
			 Defence Secondary Care Agency(58)  680 750 690 680 570   
			 Defence Storage and Distribution Agency(59)2,670 2,480 2,220 3,150 3,120 
			 Defence Transport and Movements Agency(60) 140 150 170 200 310 310 290 280 
			 Defence Vetting Agency(61) 50 320 320 350 330 250 270 310 
			 Disposal Services Agency(62) 30 20 20 20 20 20 70  
			 Duke of Yorks Royal Military School(63) 100 100 100 100 100 110 100 100 
			 Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre(64) 140 150 140  
			 Logistic Information Systems Agency(65) 160 180 200  
			 Logistics Support Services(66) 440 370 400  
			 Medical Supply Agency(67) 217 231 242 246 (86) (86) 260 (86) 
			 Meteorological Office(68) 1,770 1,820 1,680 1,890 1,840 1,850 1,840 1,610 
			 Military Survey(69) 700 680 680  
			 Ministry of Defence Police(70) 2,720 2,670 2,600 2,560 2,440 2,410 2,420 2,530 
			 Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation(71) 1,160 1,150   
			 Naval Bases and Supplies Agency(72) 5,450 4,310 4,450  
			 Naval Manning Agency(73) 80 100 90 100 110 110 110 110 
			 Naval Recruiting and Training Agency(74) 1,550 1,470 1,120 1,100 1,000 940 970 1,000 
			 Pay and Personnel Agency(75) 890 840 670 620 640 660 690 720 
			 RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency(76) 1,320 1,070   
			 RAF Personnel Management Agency(77) 210 220 230 220 240 240 210 210 
			 RAF Signals Engineering Establishment(78) 520 510 520  
			 RAF Training Group Defence Agency(79) 1,830 1,920 1,860 1,890 1,850 1,860 1,810 1,910 
			 Service Childrens Education(80) 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 
			 Specialist Procurement Services(81)  730   
			 Ships Support Agency(82) 2,150 2,110 2,140 6,760 
			 UK Hydrographic Office(83) 760 770 790 820 830 870 890 880 
			 Veterans Agency(84)  790 720 700 
			 Warship Support Agency(85) 5,450 4,960 3,550 3,520 
		
	
	
		Civilian staff strengths(31) , (32) , (33)  -- Table 2civilian personnelWales
		
			  1 April 1997 1 April 1998 1 April 1999 1 April 2000 1 April 2001 1 April 2002 1 April 2003 1 April 2004 
		
		
			 Ministry of Defence (less agencies and Trading Funds) 860 850 790 680 710 690 790 750 
			 Army Base Repair Organisation(35) 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 10 
			 Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency(36) 20 20   
			 Army Personnel Centre(37) 
			 Army Technical Support Authority(38) 
			 Army Training and Recruitment Agency(39)  130 140 150 170 160 140 140 
			 British Forces Post Office(40) 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 
			 Defence Aviation Repair Agency(43)   3,450 3,290 3,020 3,010 2,770 2,480 
			 Defence Communications Service Agency(47) 100 80   
			 Defence Dental Agency(48) (86) (86) (86) (86) (86) (86) (86) (86) 
			 Defence Estates(49) 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 10 
			 Defence Evaluation and Research Agency(50) 280 370 300 330 310
			 Defence Housing Executive(52)   10 10 10 10 10 10 
			 Defence Procurement Agency(56)10 
			 Defence Science and Technology Laboratory(57) 
			 Defence Storage and Distribution Agency(59)190 180 180 190 230 
			 Logistics Support Services(66)   10  
			 Meteorological Office(68) 40 40 40 30 30 30 40 40 
			 Ministry of Defence Police(70) 60 30 30 20 20 20   
			 Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation(71) 
			 Naval Bases and Supplies Agency(72) 40 40 50  
			 Naval Recruiting and Training Agency(74) 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 
			 Pay and Personnel Agency(75) 
			 RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency(76) 3,130 3,300   
			 RAF Training Group Defence Agency(79) 260 190 180 130 130 130 140 150 
			 Ships Support Agency(82) 10 30 30 80 
			 Veterans Agency(84)  10 10 10 
			 Warship Support Agency(85) 50 50 40 50 
		
	
	(31) Figures refer to permanent staff only, casual staff or those not paid by MOD (eg career break) not included.
	(32) Figures include values for part time staff proportionate to those of full time staff.
	(33) All figures are rounded to the nearest 10, as a result totals may not always equal the sum of the parts.
	(34) Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency was formed in April 1997.
	(35) The Army Base Repair Organisation was formed in April 1993 and gained Trading Fund status on 1 April 2002, subsequently renamed ABRO.
	(36) Army Base Storage And Distribution Agency was setup in April 1995 and absorbed into DSDA from April 1999.
	(37) Army Personnel Centre was formed in December 1996.
	(38) Army Technical Support Authority was formed October 1995 and absorbed into DLO March 2000.
	(39) Army Training and Recruitment Agency was formed in July 1997 by absorbing AITO plus recruiting.
	(40) Known as the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency until 1 July 1999.
	(41) Defence Analytical Services Agency formed July 1992.
	(42) The Defence Animal Centre was formed in June 1993 and the agency was absorbed into the Army Training and Recruitment Agency in April 1999.
	(43) The Defence Aviation Repair Agency was formed in April 1999 and gained Trading Fund status on 1 April 2001.
	(44) Defence Bills Agency was formed in December 1996.
	(45) Defence Clothing And Textile Agency was created in November 1994 and absorbed into DLO October 2000.
	(46) Defence Codification Agency was formed in June 1996 and absorbed into LSS April 1999.
	(47) Defence Communications Service Agency formed April 1998 and absorbed elements of DGIC, CHOTS, RAF Comms, RAFSEE and LISA.
	(48) Defence Dental Agency was formed February 1996. A breakdown by country is not available, therefore, the figures provided are a UK total.
	(49) Known as the Defence Estates Organisation until 1 March 1999.
	(50) Defence Evaluation and Research Agencypublic-private partnership took place in July 2001. DSTL, a trading fund, was established to take on the retained science and technology services.
	(51) Defence Geographic Imagery Intelligence Agency formed April 2000 and included JARIC and Mil Survey.
	(52) Defence Housing Executive was formed April 1999.
	(53) Defence Intelligence And Security Centre was formed October 1996.
	(54) Agency was launched on 1 April 2003, subsumed responsibilities of the Defence Medical Training Organisation and Defence Secondary Care Agency.
	(55) Defence Medical and Training Organisation formed in April 1997 and was absorbed into the Defence Medical Education and Training Agency in April 2003.
	(56) Launched on 1 April 1999 assuming responsibilities of the Specialist Procurement Services Agency.
	(57) Trading Fund, created on 1 July 2001 to take on responsibility for the retained services of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency post QinetiQ.
	(58) Formed in April 1996. On 1 April 2003 the Defence Secondary Care Agency ceased to exist and became part of the Defence Medical Education and Training Agency.
	(59) Defence Storage and Distribution Agency formed in April 1999.
	(60) Defence Transport And Movements Agency formed April 1999 subsumed DTMX, Air Movements exec and Joint Transport and Movements staff.
	(61) Defence Vetting Agency was formed in April 1997.
	(62) Known as the Disposal Sales Agency until 1 April 1999.
	(63) The Duke of York Military School was set up in April 1992.
	(64) Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre was formed in April 1996 and absorbed into DGIA April 2000.
	(65) Logistic Information Systems Agency setup in November 1994 and absorbed in to DCSA with parts of DGIS from April 2001.
	(66) Logistic Support Services Agency was formed in December 1996 and absorbed into DLO March 2000.
	(67) Medical Supplies Agency formed March 1996. A breakdown by country is not available, therefore, the figures provided are a UK total.
	(68) The Meteorological Office was formed in April 1990 and the agency gained Trading Fund status on 1 April 1996.
	(69) Military Survey Defence Agency was formed in April 1991 and was absorbed into the DGIIA in April 2000.
	(70) Ministry of Defence Police formed in April 1996.
	(71) Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation formed in April 1992 and was absorbed into DARA in April 1999.
	(72) Naval Bases and Supplies Agency formed in December 1996 and was absorbed into the Ships Support Agency in April 2000.
	(73) Naval Manning Agency was formed July 1996.
	(74) Naval Recruiting And Training Agency was setup in April 1995.
	(75) Pay And Personnel Agency was formed in February 1996
	(76) The RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency formed in April 1991 and was absorbed into the Defence Aviation Repair Agency on 1 April 1999.
	(77) RAF Personnel Management Agency was formed in February 1997.
	(78) RAF Signals Engineering Establishment was setup in November 1994 and absorbed in to DCSA April 2000.
	(79) RAF Training Group Defence Agency formed in April 1994.
	(80) Service Childrens Education formed April 1991.
	(81) Specialist Procurement Services was formed in June 1997 and absorbed into the DPA in April 1999.
	(82) Ships Support Agency was formed in December 1996 and absorbed the Naval Bases and Supplies Agency in April 2000.
	(83) The UK Hydrographic Office was formed in April 1990 and the agency gained Trading Fund status on 1 April 1996.
	(84) Veterans Agency, the renamed War Pensions Agency, transferred to MOD from DSS in April 2002.
	(85) Warship Support Agency was formed from the merger of Ships Support Agency and Naval Bases and Supply Agency during 200001.
	(86) Not available.
	Note:
	''denotes zero or rounded to zero.

Departmental Estate

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) military bases, (b) Ministry of Defence sites and (c) docks under consideration for (i) run-down and (ii) closure.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence keeps the size and location of its bases under constant review. In the estate strategy, In Trust and On Trust the Department set out its intention to define its mainland Great Britain sites as 'core' or 'non-core'. Initial classification work was conducted last year. Building on this the Department is now undertaking further work to identify where estate rationalisation may be possible. Any specific proposals arising from these studies will be subjected to full consultation in due course.

Departmental Minutes

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, prior to putting in place the planned increase in public insurance liability to cover the submarine reactor fuel core factory and associated Neptune test reactor as proposed in the departmental minute of 11 March 2004, he will place in the Library a copy of full risk appraisal referred to in the minute.

Adam Ingram: As this appraisal relates to sensitive nuclear materials and industrial processes, I am withholding it in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (which relates to defence, security and international relations).

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 5 January 2004, Official Report, columns 2930W, on Iraq if he will (a) give the date and (b) describe each of the events for which compensation was paid to Iraqi civilians for injuries caused by UK forces; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 5 March 2004
	22 individuals have received payment as a result of claims for compensation submitted since 1 May 2003 by Iraqi civilians claiming to have been injured by UK forces.
	These claims resulted from the following events:
	
		
			  Events 
		
		
			 5 August 2003 Injuries resulting from property search 
			 6 August 2003 Injuries sustained in road traffic accident 
			 9 August 2003 Gunshot wound 
			 14 August 2003 Injuries sustained in road traffic accident 
			 22 August 2003 Injuries sustained during arrest 
			 30 September 2003 Injuries sustained in road traffic accident 
			 14 October 2003 Gunshot wound

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings ministers and officials in his Department have had with relatives of Iraqi civilians allegedly killed as a result of Coalition action.

Adam Ingram: In Iraq, members of the UK armed forces and other MOD officials meet Iraqis to discuss a range of issues, and these can include the topic of civilian casualties. In the event of a claim issued by Iraqi civilians against UK forces, for example, Area Claims Officers will meet those who wish to issue the claim.
	As these arrangements are in place in theatre, Ministers and MOD officials in the UK have not had cause to meet civilians specifically to discuss the issue of the alleged killing of their relatives by Coalition action.

Iraq

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts have been awarded to UK firms for the reconstruction of Iraq; and how many of these are (a) Welsh firms and (b) firms with operations in Wales.

Mike O'Brien: In view of the large number of different organisations involved in letting reconstruction contracts in Iraq, it has become difficult to maintain a definitive picture of the total volume of contracts awarded, and the cumulative value of these contracts. In addition a number of British companies have been awarded contracts and sub-contracts for the reconstruction process in Iraq, but some have asked us not to publicise their success because of issues of commercial confidentiality. Those companies that have advised us of their success are not recorded by region, and so we are therefore unable to assess the success or otherwise of companies with operations in Wales. I will write to the hon. Member with further details about some of the Contracts that we know bout.

Merchant Navy

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future protection of the Merchant Navy.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Navy works closely with other Government Departments on the need to protect shipping and employs a worldwide Maritime Trade Operations (MTO) policy, which enables it to offer a number of options to support merchant shipping. They range from provision of routine advice and guidance, through to Naval supervision of merchant vessels. Decisions about the timing and type of support offered are informed by the threat level in a region or area. The global threat to merchant shipping is kept under constant review, and if necessary, additional MTO measures can be implemented quickly. Decisions over future safeguards or levels of protection will always reflect the level of threat that is present.

New Bases

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) RAF bases are being considered for opening; and in what areas.

Ivor Caplin: There are no current plans to acquire land for new Service bases.

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many parliamentary questions have been tabled to his Department since 1st January 2003, broken down by (a) ordinary written and (b) named day; what percentage in respect of (a) were answered within 10 working days and what percentage in respect of (b) were answered by the specified date.

Ivor Caplin: According to our records 4,195 ordinary written parliamentary questions and 819 named day parliamentary questions were tabled to Defence Ministers between 1 January 2003 and 26 February 2004.
	Information on the number of days taken to answer is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Defence Ministers aim to answer named day questions on the day named and ordinary written questions within five sitting days.

Reservists

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what actions he has taken to promote the role of reservists arising from their contribution in Iraq; how many reservists have been recruited to the armed forces since the beginning of hostilities in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The Government's aim is to continue to raise national awareness of the commitment and integration of reservists in the overall force, and to acknowledge the importance of the support we receive from employers, families and of course the reservists themselves.
	We provide, through the Permanent Joint Headquarters Northwood, consideration and support to journalists that apply for access to reservists serving in Iraq. The provisions of the Editors Abroad Scheme assist this task.
	Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers (SaBRE) campaign run by the MOD continues to encourage support for the Volunteer Reserve Forces amongst civilian employers. To highlight the profile of reservists, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State held a reception in autumn last year for major UK employers, to thank them for their support for reservists. Similar receptions were also held around the UK for key regional employers. In addition, two parties of journalists were sent to Iraq to specifically highlight the use of reservists with the employer audience at home. I met with a large number of Reservists during my recent visit to South East Iraq.
	The number of volunteer reservists (VRs) who have been recruited since 1 March 2003 is not held centrally. Each Service records data separately and in different formats. The information available is given below:
	Royal Navy Reserve: 305
	Royal Marines Reserve: 180
	Royal Auxiliary Air Force: 295
	No figures for the Territorial Army are currently available.

Rest and Recuperation

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel serving on operations abroad had their rest and recuperation period reduced as a result of military transport difficulties in each of the past 12 months; what efforts are being made to ensure service personnel receive their full rest and recuperation entitlement; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	Rest and recuperation periods for service personnel serving on operations abroad are not an entitlement, personnel are only released if the operational situation allows. Every effort is taken to ensure service personnel rest and recuperation periods are maximised within the allowances of the regulations and mitigating action is taken where possible if periods are excessively disrupted.

Second World War Anniversary Celebrations

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role he envisages for local authorities in marking (a) VE Day and (b) VJ Day outside London.

Ivor Caplin: On 1 March 2004 I announced to the House that there will be a national celebration and commemoration of the end of the Second World War on Sunday 10 July 2005. The main event will be in London. However, I very much hope that other towns and cities across the United Kingdom will stage their own events on that day. Planning is at an early stage and I expect to be able to inform the House further about progress later in the year.

Warships

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the decommissioning of (a) HMS Norfolk and (b) HMS Iron Duke.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 15 March 2004, Official Report, columns 4950W, which provided details of current decommissioning plans for HMS Norfolk and HMS Iron Duke.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Condover Hall School

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children at Condover Hall School have been found alternative school places for when the school closes.

Margaret Hodge: Condover Hall is proposed for closure in July this year. Of the 30 pupils currently on roll at the School, two pupils will be entering post-16 provision in the Summer term, four have received written confirmation of an alternative place and the remainder have either had conditional offers, subject to assessment, or parents are still considering various options. RNIB is confident that all the pupils will have an alternative school place before Condover closes on 16 July 2004.

Education (Ribble Valley)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many spare places have been available at the beginning of each school year since 199798 at each school in the Ribble Valley constituency.

David Miliband: The number of spare places at each school in the Ribble Valley constituency since 199798 provided by the Department's annual surplus places survey is set out in the following tables. The figures state the position as at January each year, adjusted for the summer term intake. We do not have figures for 200102 as there was no surplus places survey in that year.
	
		
			 School year 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200203 
		
		
			 Primary  
			 Alston Lane Catholic Primary School, Longridge 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Balderstone St. Leonard's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 0 0 0 23 10 
			 Barrow School 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Barton St. Lawrence Church of England Primary School 86 80 81 83 94 
			 Bolton by Bowland Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 17 18 16 12 4 
			 Brabins Endowed School 63 64 74 74 8 
			 Chatburn Church of England Primary School 31 25 24 39 13 
			 Clitheroe Brookside Primary School 5 5 3 35 0 
			 Clitheroe Pendle Primary School 0 0 0 0 45 
			 Coupe Green Primary School 12 9 25 29 15 
			 Edisford Primary School 22 23 0 0 16 
			 Fulwood and Cadley Primary School 0 0 3 6 0 
			 Fulwood, St. Peter's Church of England Primary School 0 0 0 0 37 
			 Gisburn Primary School 17 5 8 13 5 
			 Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School 0 0 14 21 20 
			 Goosnargh Whitechapel Primary School 14 6 5 8 24 
			 Grimsargh St. Michael's Church of England Primary School 3 0 0 9 34 
			 Grindleton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 0 0 1 8 16 
			 Harris Primary School 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Higher Walton Church of England Primary School 3 2 0 0 10 
			 Kennington Primary School 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Langho and Billington St. Leonards CofE Primary School 8 0 0 0 0 
			 Longridge Church of England Primary School 9 11 4 16 30 
			 Longridge Primary School 16 31 19 13 0 
			 Longridge St. Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Primary School 0 0 0 40 35 
			 Longsands Community Primary School 16 0 22 3 0 
			 Mellor St. Mary Church of England Primary School 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Our Lady and St. Edward's Catholic Primary School, Preston 0 0 0 24 28 
			 Queen's Drive Primary School 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Read St. John's CofE Primary School 0 0 0 0 21 
			 Ribchester St. Wilfrid's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 0 0 1 1 11 
			 Sabden Primary School 26 28 31 26 0 
			 Salesbury Church of England Primary School  0 0 0 25 
			 Samlesbury Church of England School 4 9 12 15 11 
			 Sherwood Primary School 4 0 0 3 0 
			 Simonstone St.Peter's Church of England Primary School 0 0 0 4 0 
			 Slaidburn Brennands Endowed Primary School 9 11 19 21 24 
			 St. Anthony's Catholic Primary School, Fulwood, Preston 0 0 0 0 5 
			 St. Clare's Catholic Primary School, Preston 0 0 13 13 1 
			 St.Francis Catholic Primary School, Goosnargh 0 0 0 1 13 
			 St. James' Church of England Primary School, Clitheroe 19 22 9 17 41 
			 St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, HurSt.Green 24 22 24 23 7 
			 St. Mary and St. Andrew's Catholic Primary School, 1 0 2 9 0 
			 Barton Newsham  
			 St. Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Chipping 18 19 18 21 22 
			 St. Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Langho 0 0 0 0 0 
			 St. Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Osbaldeston 14 17 16 13 0 
			 St. Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Sabden 53 54 52 54 38 
			 St. Michael and St. John's Roman Catholic Primary School, Clitheroe  0 0 0 6 
			 Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School, Dunsop Bridge 25 23 24 46 15 
			 Waddington and West Bradford Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 32 24 43 48 25 
			 Whalley Church of England Primary School 0 0 0 15 0 
			 Total 551 508 563 788 710 
			   
			 Secondary  
			 Bowland High School 0 0 0 0 87 
			 Clitheroe Royal Grammar School  81 65 0 58 
			 Corpus Christi Catholic High School 58 29 0 0 87 
			 Fulwood High School and Arts College 0 0 0 0 17 
			 Longridge High School 55 43 22 24 3 
			 Our Lady's Catholic High School 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ribblesdale High School Technology College 0 0 6 0 0 
			 St. Augustine's Roman Catholic High School, Billington 0 0 0 0 0 
			 St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic High School, Longridge 0 0 0 58 0 
			 Total 113 153 93 82 252

Free Places (Burton)

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many free places were available for (a) three-year olds and (b) four-year olds in the Burton constituency in each of the last seven years.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four year olds in Staffordshire local education authority area are shown in the table.
	The latest figures on provision for 3 and 4 year olds in England were published in a Statistical Bulletin 'Provision for children under five years of age in EnglandJanuary 2003' which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.
	We have made the commitment that by April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all three year olds in England whose parents want one, will have access to a free, part-time early education place.
	
		Number of free nursery education places(87) (88) taken up by three and four year old children in maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers Staffordshire Local Education Authority area from 19972003
		
			  Position in January each year 
			  3 year-olds 4 year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 3,500 9,600 
			 1998 2,700 9,700 
			 1999 2,700 9,500 
			 2000 2,600 9,400 
			 2001 3,000 9,200 
			 2002 4,300 9,100 
			 2003 5,800 9,200 
		
	
	(87) Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4 year old children.
	(88) A free nursery education place comprises 5, two and  hour sessions of early years education per week, for 33 weeks of the year, usually three terms of 11 weeks.

Learning and Skills Councils

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what services are contracted out to external providers through the Learning and Skills Council; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has the responsibility to plan, fund, monitor and drive up the quality of post-16 learning in England, apart from higher education. It has the power to give funding to others for the purpose of fulfilling its duties and exercising its powers. The detail of any such arrangement is a matter for the LSC and I have asked Mark Haysom, the Chief Executive, to reply to you direct, copying his reply to me.

Learning and Skills Councils

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he has given the Learning and Skills Councils on consulting (a) hon. Members and (b) local communities on the provision of further education in their areas.

Alan Johnson: The Learning and Skills Act 2000 requires local Learning and Skills Councils (LSCs) to consult relevant local authorities and regional development agencies in drawing up their plans for the provision of education and training, including further education. The Secretary of State's remit letter for the LSC also emphasised the Council could only succeed if it worked in partnership with a wide range of stakeholder organisations. I would expect local LSCs to involve a wide range of interested parties, including hon. Members, when developing their plans to meet the needs of local businesses and communities.

National Childcare Strategy

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have gained from the National Childcare Strategy in Chorley; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Information on the number of new child care places created in an individual constituency is available only from 1999. Lancashire local authority reported that between April 1999 and December 2003, the latest date for which information is currently available, 1,306 new child care places opened in Chorley constituency. A place typically helps more than one child, as not all children take up places full-time, and we estimate these places will help some 2,300 children. During the same period, Lancashire reported that 620 child care places closed in Chorley, so that the stock of child care places rose by 686.

Neighbourhood Nurseries

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what budget (a) was set for 200304 and (b) has been allocated for 200405 and 200506 by each relevant Government department for neighbourhood nurseries, broken down by English region.

Margaret Hodge: Under the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative both revenue and capital funding has been made available to local authorities to support the development and delivery of new, affordable child care places in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards. Revenue funding of up to 5,400 for each new child care place created is awarded from when the nursery opens and is paid over a three year period. Capital funding is being provided through the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) and DfES to assist in the creation of new nurseries.
	The total budget (revenue and capital) which was set in 200304 and current indicative allocations for 200405 and 200506 for neighbourhood nurseries by English region is given in the table. NOF capital grant is allocated to individual projects and annual spend is determined by the progress in building the nurseries. The figures therefore represent the total NOF capital grant by English region up to the period 200506.
	
		
		
			  200304 200405 200506 Total NOF Capital 
			  Revenue Capital Revenue Capital Revenue Capital  
		
		
			 Eastern 3,518,124 1,664,488 5,558,304 170,000 3,517,693 0 6,884,043 
			 East Mids 4,391,406 815,945 7,342,813 200,000 4,131,861 0 6,649,810 
			 London 11,817,850 4,922,925 19,592,251 1,351,772 12,377,269 0 15,103,330 
			 North East 8,500,085 1,979,684 13,120,272 93,300 6,895,193 0 9,991,977 
			 North West 13,689,459 3,053,468 22,099,975 440,260 13,600,256 0 19,238,032 
			 South East 4,751,511 2,542,230 8,262,153 0 4,923,045 0 8,431,051 
			 South West 5,122,601 1,496,178 9,370,252 0 5,183,311 0 9,218,990 
			 West Mids 7,954,985 2,059,416 14,479,010 240,000 8,298,484 0 12,743,743 
			 Yorks and Humbs 9,028,856 1,712,527 14,687,917 207,000 8,015,647 0 11,739,025 
			 Totals 68,774,877 20,246,861 114,512,947 2,702,332 66,942,759 0 100,000,000

Nurseries

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new nurseries have been established in Chorley since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Lancashire county council is responsible for determining local need for nursery provision in Chorley and holding information on current provision. The only new nursery set up since 1997 under a central government initiative in Chorley, is the Neighbourhood Nursery due to open in May 2004 providing 50 full day care places.

School Funding (Staffordshire)

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much total capital expenditure has been spent on schools in (a) Burton constituency and (b) Staffordshire in each of the last 10 years.

David Miliband: The majority of capital funding is allocated to local authorities and schools by needs related formulae, linked to locally agreed asset management planning processes. This allows decisions on how these resources should be invested to be taken locally. The following table shows total capital allocations to the Staffordshire local education authority area since 199697, the earliest year for which reliable information is readily available.
	
		Capital allocations to Staffordshire LEA
		
			  Allocation (000) 
		
		
			 199697 3,685 
			 199798 7,421 
			 199899 25,935 
			 19992000 15,549 
			 200001 31,145 
			 200102 23,096 
			 200203 26,601 
			 200304 35,529 
		
	
	Note:
	The allocations include the Voluntary Aided sector.

School Sports Halls (Burton)

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been invested in school sports halls in Burton constituency in each year since 1996, broken down by school.

David Miliband: The Department does not hold information on how much has been spent on sports halls. Schools premises investment decisions are based on local education authority asset management planning processes and this information should therefore be available locally.

SEN (Performance Targets)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to introduce performance targets for pupils with special educational needs.

David Miliband: All maintained schools are required to set targets for their pupils including those with special educational needs (SEN) by virtue of The Education (School Performance Targets) (England) (Amendment) Regulations which came into force in 2001.
	In addition to routine monitoring of a child's progress by their teacher, each child with SEN is expected to have short-term educational and development targets set for them during the course of the year. These targets form part of their individual education plan which should be reviewed on a regular basis before new targets are set.
	Removing Barriers to Achievement: the Government's Strategy for SEN, launched last month, strengthens the focus on pupil progress and achievement. One of the key measures is Mailing and guidance on how schools can make effective use of routine tests, tasks and other forms of assessment to inform target-setting and reporting on pupil progress.
	We will also be supporting all schools with pupils working at the very lowest level of the National Curriculum, by promoting the use of P-Scales and providing guidance on moderation to support consistent assessment and collection of P-Scale results in 2005.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Middle East

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to the Israeli Government regarding water supplies to people living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Hilary Benn: The Government have frequently made representations to the Israeli authorities, both bilaterally and through the European Union, about the destruction of water infrastructure and access to safe water supplies, including as a result of the building of the separation barrier.

Middle East

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the provision of clean water to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Hilary Benn: About a third of West Bank communities still depend on local springs and harvesting cisterns to get their water. It is often not suitable for drinking. Per capita, consumption is decreasing, from 95 cubic metres per year per capita in 1997 to 67 cubic metres per year per capita in year 2000. Figures for subsequent years are not available but the impact of the intifada has increased problems with access to clean water for many families. DFID supports the Palestinian Water Authority in its analysis of available water resources. This includes a project to model the western aquifer and predict the sustainable yields.

Middle East

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the sources of water in the West Bank appropriated by Israel during the construction of the security fence.

Hilary Benn: The security fence is causing severe problems in access to water for Palestinian civilians and farmers, which is damaging the Palestinian agricultural economy. Once the western section of the Wall is completed, it is estimated that the annual value of agricultural production in the West Bank will decrease by 22.8 per cent. In Qalqilya alone 15 of the city's 39 wells have been confiscated or isolated, representing over one-third of the city's water supply.
	DFID supports the Palestinian Water Authority in its analysis of the shared Western Aquifer and the Palestinian Negotiations Support Unit in its preparatory work for final status negotiations on sharing water resources with Israel. This has helped Palestinian analysis of the water sources appropriated by the building of the barrier.

Middle East

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the work of the Parents' Circle in the West Bank and Gaza.

Hilary Benn: The Parents' Circle provides support to bereaved Israelis and Palestinians who have lost family members as a result of the conflict. It plays an important campaigning and advocacy role, providing lectures for school children and disseminating information on the conflict to the wider general public. Civil society organisations like Parents' Circle can play a useful role in conflict situations by reducing tensions, bringing ordinary people together.

Civil Society Organisations

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the UK-based civil society organisations that received contributions from his Department in 2002.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: This information is not readily available in respect of calendar years and could be obtained only by incurring a disproportionate cost. However, the list of UK based civil society organisations that DFID has provided funding to in the financial year 200203 will be placed in the Libraries of the House of Commons under the title List of UK Civil Society Organisations Receiving Contributions from DFID (PQ reference 161404).
	In addition, a number of CSOs receive funding direct from our country offices.

Civil Society Organisations

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding was received by each UK-based civil society organisation from his Department in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: This information is not readily available in respect of calendar years and can be obtained only by incurring a disproportionate cost. However, the funding DFID has provided to UK based civil society organisations in the financial years 200102 and 200203 is available and will be placed in the Libraries of the House of Commons under the title UK Civil Society Organisations Funded by DFID (Hansard PQ ref 161405).
	This information relates to the UK CSOs which receive funding directly from DFID headquarters. In addition, a number of CSOs receive funding direct from our country offices.

Commission for Africa

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his statement of 26 February 2004, Official Report, column 55WS, on the Commission for Africa, what further commissioners have been appointed; and how many commissioners are planned in total.

Hilary Benn: The 10 confirmed Commissioners on the Commission for Africa are the Prime Minister, Chancellor Gordon Brown, myself, Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia, K.Y. Amoako (Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa), Trevor Manuel (South African Finance Minister), Michel Camdessus (French Africa Personal Representative), Mrs. Nancy Kassebaum Baker (Former US Senator), Ralph Goodale (Canadian Finance Minister) and Bob Geldof. Five more invitations are outstanding. There will be no more than 15 Commissioners in total.

Millennium Development Goals

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will include in the Departmental Report for 2004 a statement on (a) the progress made on and (b) the resources invested in the Millennium Development Goal targets for increases in access to drinking water and basic sanitation.

Hilary Benn: DFID's departmental report 2004 will set out our broad strategy on water and sanitation. It will stress the importance of working with partner governments through their Poverty Reduction Strategies and of providing support to a range of multilateral initiatives. DFID's Water Action Plan published by the Department in March 2004, contains the following central elements:
	Evidence of the links between water and the other Millennium Development Goals
	A focus on a number of international partnerships and networks that create coherence and consistency in the water sector
	The incorporation of water issues into DFID's discussions on water policy with partner countries
	DFID's programme for action at country, regional and international level
	The Water Action Plan also includes a breakdown of the bilateral financial resources invested in the development of water and sanitation services and an explanation of other DFID funding through non-governmental organisations and multilateral partners.
	Copies are available at www.dfid.gov.uk
	Further information detailing financial expenditure on specific sectors is included in Statistics on International Development 199899200203, published in October 2003. This also outlines progress made towards the MDG targets for increasing access to water and basic sanitation.
	Queries relating to Statistics on International Development should be addressed to: statsmis@dfid.gov.uk

Tanzania

Michael Trend: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the implications for UK aid to Tanzania of Tanzania's decision to purchase an aircraft for its President.

Hilary Benn: The purchase and cost of the Government aircraft has been included both in the 200203 and 200304 budgets. It has been debated in Parliament as part of the budget speech discussions and further sessions. Our budget support is to enable the Government of Tanzania to implement its Poverty Reduction Strategy. Resource allocation decisions are for the Government of Tanzania to make. Allocations to priority sectors for poverty reduction have increased in absolute terms year on year since 2000.

Zimbabwe

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what account he takes of the domestic budget priorities of the Zimbabwe Government when assessing humanitarian aid to the country.

Hilary Benn: There is an internationally agreed process through which the Government of Zimbabwe and the Office of the United Nations Humanitarian Co-ordinator agree annually a Consolidated Appeal in consultation with all other humanitarian stakeholders. The humanitarian appeal takes account of what the Government of Zimbabwe plans and is reasonably expected to do within its own resources. But we have not held back our assistance because of clearly poor policies of the Government of Zimbabwe, including on budget allocation. To do so would be to punish poor and vulnerable citizens of Zimbabwe for the actions of a Government whose legitimacy is questioned.
	DFID has supported those elements of the Consolidated Appeal that provide humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable members of Zimbabwean society. The efficiency of the response is often hindered by the lack of transparency surrounding Government plans and programmesparticularly in the case of the State monopoly Grain Marketing Board. DFID, through the UN and with our development partners, continues to advocate for greater transparency on state spending from the Government of Zimbabwe.

CABINET OFFICE

Emergency Planning College

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what arrangements he will make for hon. Members to visit the Emergency Planning College to see the training taking place.

Douglas Alexander: I am always content to consider requests from hon. Members to visit the Emergency Planning College. From October 2004 the commissioning of its new buildings will be complete and the new programme of courses under way.

Better Regulation Task Force

Tony Wright: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his written Statement on 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 61WS, on the Regulation Task Force Report, Independent Regulators, who is leading this review; what its remit is; what resources are at its disposal; when it is likely to report; whether the report will be made public; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The review of public bodies referred to in my written statement of 9 February 2004 on the Better Regulation Task Force Report 'Independent Regulators' was prompted by the Public Administration Select Committee's Fourth Report of Session 20022003 'Government by Appointment:
	Opening Up the Patronage State' (HC 165). In response to the first recommendation of that report the Government stated that:
	The Government agrees with the Committee that the variety and complexity of public bodies sponsored by central Government Departments supports the need for a review of their definition and scope. The Cabinet Office will therefore undertake a review of the types of body currently in existence and the outcome of this will feed into the work proposed in response to recommendations 4 and 5.
	The Review is being carried out by the Cabinet Office within existing resources and work is expected to be complete by the end of December 2004. The final report will review the types of body currently in existence and will be made publicly available on the Cabinet Office website.

Better Regulation Task Force

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the action taken by the Government in response to recommendations made by the Better Regulation Task Force.

Douglas Alexander: Since it was established in 1997, the Better Regulation Task Force has made around 400 recommendations to Government. All but 10 have been accepted.
	Recent actions in response to Task Force recommendations include the announcement of common commencement dates for domestic employment regulations and the strengthening of guidance on Government consultation.
	The Task Force monitors the Government's implementation of its recommendations.

Better Regulation Task Force

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his answer of 9 March 2004, Official Report, column 1397W, on the Better Regulation Task Force, if he will break down the cost of the task force by inquiry.

Douglas Alexander: Published inquiries are only one aspect of the Better Regulation Task Force's work. The cost of individual inquiries cannot be disaggregated from the Task Force's overall running costs.

Disabled Civil Servants

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to change the target for recruitment of people with disabilities to the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Government remain committed to increasing the proportion of people with disabilities in the Civil Service. As of April 2003, disabled staff accounted for 3.6 per cent. of the Civil service, up from 2.8 per cent. in 1995. A service-wide target has been set at 3.0per cent. disabled people in the senior Civil Service by 200405. There are no present plans to change this target.

Disabled Civil Servants

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent steps he has taken to increase the number of people with disabilities in the Civil Service.

Douglas Alexander: The Government remain committed to increasing the number of people with disabilities in the Civil Service. The Cabinet Office promotes outreach initiatives, including: a Summer Placement Scheme to encourage disabled applicants to join the graduate Fast Stream; and participation in WORKSTEP, a Government initiative to help disabled people to progress to mainstream employment where appropriate.

Lord Birt

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether Lord Birt has an office in Government premises.

Douglas Alexander: Lord Birt is the Prime Minister's unpaid strategy adviser and is based at No. 10.

Permanent Secretary of Government Communications

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects the Permanent Secretary of Government Communications to become operationally functional.

Douglas Alexander: We are in the final stages of the selection process for the Permanent Secretary Government Communications. We expect to announce an appointment shortly. The successful candidate will take up post as soon as they can, taking forward work and leading people already contributing to improvements in Government communications.

Red Tape

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his answer of 9 March 2004, Official Report, column 1399W, on the Regulatory Impact Unit, on what statistical basis the statement that the UK has almost the lowest administration cost and fewer regulations for entrepreneurs than any other EU country was made; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The statistical basis for this assessment was published in an OECD working paper, published on 13 January 2003, entitled Regulation, Productivity and Growth: OECD Evidence. Recent assessments by the World Bank and KPMG have drawn similar conclusions.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Freedom of Information Act (Annual Report)

Llew Smith: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many copies of the annual report on the bringing into force of provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 published in November 2003 were printed; how the report was publicised; and how many imprints have been recorded to date showing visits to the URL for the report on his Department's website.

David Lammy: 1,000 copies of this report were printed. Publication was announced to both Houses by means of Written Ministerial Statements Official Report column 40WS on 27 November 2003 and my Department issued a press release on 28 November 2003. Up to the end of February 2004, the URL for the report was visited 1,076 times and the relevant document was downloaded 4,846 times.

Freedom of Information Act (Costs)

Llew Smith: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what has been the cost to date to (a) Government Departments and (b) non-Departmental public bodies subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 of the steps taken to implement that Act; and what estimate he has made of the costs that will be incurred by the time the Act comes fully into force.

David Lammy: The information requested in points (a) and (b) of the hon. Member's question is not held centrally. However, we estimate that the cost to date of implementing FOI within my Department has been 180,207.
	No recent estimate has been made of the collective costs that will be incurred by all departments and non-Departmental public bodies by the time the Act comes into force. For my own Department, projected costs of implementation for the period March 2004 to January 2005 are a further 107,667.
	Although no additional money is being made available centrally for implementing FOI, the cost of implementation should be considered in the light of the organisational and public benefits that it will bring through improved record keeping and relationships with the public, better decision making and greater public confidence in those decisions.

Guantanamo Detainees

Llew Smith: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the British former detainees held at the prison camp in Guantanamo in Cuba would be eligible to claim financial aid to support a case to sue the United States authorities for compensation for unlawful detention.

David Lammy: The legal aid scheme for England and Wales can only cover proceedings in this jurisdiction. Legal aid is not available for proceeding in the United States courts.
	For any proceedings properly brought in England and Wales, legal aid may be available subject to a standard financial means and legal merits test. The Legal Services Commission considers all cases objectively against these criteria before deciding whether or not to fund a case.

Northern Ireland Court Service

Seamus Mallon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what authority there is for the exclusion of Irish nationals are from reserved posts in the Northern Ireland Court Service.

Christopher Leslie: Posts in the Northern Ireland Court Service are reserved in accordance with the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Rape

Sally Keeble: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the action he is taking to improve the administration of rape cases in Northamptonshire;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to prevent delays in court hearings of rape cases.

Christopher Leslie: The listing of cases in the courts is a judicial function, although the administration of the task is delegated to an official who operates within parameters set by and in accordance with the policy established by the judiciary. Top priority is always given to the early allocation of a fixed date for the trial of rape cases in the Crown Court. Court staff make every effort to try to ensure that the trial goes ahead on the date and at the time specified, so that the parties and their witnesses are not brought to court unnecessarily. The Effective Trial Management Programme is also working to improve case preparation and progression, to achieve successful outcomes.
	The situation in this respect applies to Northamptonshire cases as it does to cases proceeding in all other venues of the Crown Court.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Council Tax

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 2 March 2004, Official Report, column 820W, on council tax, what total additional revenue support grant has been allocated to Durham as a result of the council tax base reduction because of the number of student exemptions.

Nick Raynsford: It is not possible to give a meaningful value for the total additional revenue support grant that has been allocated to Durham as a result of the council tax base reduction because of the number of student exemptions.
	That is because, to do so, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would first need to calculate a taxbase that included the properties currently excluded because of student exemptions for all authorities. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not have any information about whether these properties would have otherwise been subject to different discounts or exemptions (e.g. single-person discount).
	This new taxbase would then need to be used to recalculate Revenue Support Grant (RSG). This is likely to result in a different distribution of grant before floors and ceilings to authorities. The existing levels of floors and ceilings may then be inappropriate with this new distribution; it would certainly change the scaling factors on grant increases above the floor published in the Local Government Finance Report (England) 200405.
	The number of properties covered by student exemptions is no longer collected by band of property. The latest year for which this information was available was 200203. In 200203 Durham City had one class K exemptions (an empty dwelling owned by a student who last lived in the dwelling as their main home), 129 class M exemptions (for halls of residence) and 728 class N exemptions (for dwellings occupied only by students, the foreign spouses of students, or school and college leavers). This is the equivalent of about 828 Band D properties. The Standard Tax Element for shire districts for 200203 was 97.2073276605. Therefore under the assumptions specified in the Local Government Finance Report (England) 200203, Durham City would have been able to raise a further 80,444.46 had these properties not had student exemptions. An equivalent amount of RSG before floors and ceilings was therefore provided to Durham City with respect to the properties with student exemptions.

English Partnerships

Brian White: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what energy efficiency targets he has set for English Partnerships.

Phil Hope: English Partnerships (EP) has established its own energy efficiency targets for all new homes, retail, office and industrial buildings constructed on its land. For all developments it applies the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) standards; in addition, for residential projects, it applies National Home Energy Rating (NHER) standards, which have been devised by the National Energy Foundation.
	Where it is the main or sole partner in a development, EP's aim is to achieve BREEAM Very good standards and NHER 9.0 ratings.
	In all of the seven Millennium Community developments and a number of other EP landmark or exemplar schemes BREEAM Excellent and NHER 10.0 standards will be achieved. All residential schemes in Milton Keynes achieve NHER 10.0.
	The Millennium Community programme also seeks to achieve other higher environmental and construction targets.

Fire Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the (a) number and (b) cost of redundancies that would arise from merging Fire and Rescue control rooms into nine regional control centres;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the total cost of merging Fire and Rescue control rooms into nine regional control centres.

Nick Raynsford: The Mott MacDonald report, on the Future of Fire and Rescue Service Control Rooms in England and Wales, published on 11 December 2003, includes estimates of the costs and benefits of establishing regional fire and rescue control rooms. These include estimates of both the number of posts that will no longer be required and redundancy costs. Copies were made available in the Library of the House.

Houses in Multiple Occupation

Andy Reed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received on extending the definition of houses in multiple occupation to include student houses occupied by fewer than five persons; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Representations have been received from the National Union Of Students (NUS), other student representative bodies, the Houses in Multiple Occupation Network and some local authorities to extend the scope of mandatory licensing of HMOs to include student houses occupied by fewer than five persons.
	The Housing Bill provides that accommodation shared by students (but excluding halls of residence managed by the university) will be classified as HMOs. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made it clear that the scope of the mandatory licensing of HMOs, as prescribed by secondary legislation, is currently proposed to apply to HMOs that are three storeys and more and occupied by at least five persons who constitute more than one household. This will cover a great many shared student houses.
	The Government has always stressed that the provisions in the Housing Bill are concerned with dealing with the worst standards of management and physical conditions in the private rented sector, particularly the larger HMOs that present the greatest risks. However, the Bill does give local authorities a discretionary power to license smaller HMOs if there is a need to do so, in order that the welfare, health and safety of the occupiers are protected.

Houses in Multiple Occupation

Andy Reed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much is being paid to Charnwood borough council through the Revenue Support Grant in 200304 to compensate for council tax revenue lost as a result of the exemption for houses in multiple occupation occupied solely by students; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: It is not possible to give a meaningful value for the total additional revenue support grant that has been allocated to Charnwood as a result of the council tax base reduction because of the number of student exemptions.
	That is because, to do so, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would first need to calculate a tax base that included the properties currently excluded because of student exemptions for all authorities. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not have any information about whether these properties would have otherwise been subject to different discounts or exemptions (e.g. single-person discount).
	This new tax base would then need to be used to recalculate Revenue Support Grant. This is likely to result in a different distribution of grant before floors and ceilings to authorities. The existing levels of floors and ceilings may then be inappropriate with this new distribution; it would certainly change the scaling factors on grant increases above the floor published in the Local Government Finance Report (England) 200405.
	However, for 200203 an approximate calculation is shown as follows. The number of properties covered by student exemptions is no longer collected by band of property. The latest year for which this information was available was 200203. In 200203 Charnwood had 512 class N exemptions (for dwellings occupied only by students, the foreign spouses of students, or school and college leavers). This is the equivalent of about 400 Band D properties. The Standard Tax Element for shire districts for 200203 was 97.2073276605. Therefore under the assumptions specified in the Local Government Finance Report (England) 200203, Charnwood would have been able to raise a further 38,904.53 had these properties not had student exemptions. An equivalent amount of RSG before floors and ceilings was therefore provided to Charnwood with respect to the properties with student exemptions.

Local Government

Harry Cohen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information he collects on the percentage of annual local authority staffing costs spent on training.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Local Government

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the aggregate revenue expenditure of councils in England was in each year since 199394; and what percentage of that expenditure was funded by (a) government grant, (b) non-domestic rates and (c) council tax in each year.

Nick Raynsford: The amount of aggregate revenue expenditure of councils in England in each year since 199394 and what percentage of that expenditure was funded by (a) government grant, (b) non-domestic rates and (c) council tax in each year is tabled as follows.
	
		Funding of revenue expenditure
		
			  Revenue expenditure(89) Government grant(90) Non-domestic rates(91) Council tax(92) 
			   billion  billion Percentage  billion Percentage  billion Percentage 
		
		
			 199394 41.506 21.685 52 11.584 28 8.912 21 
			 199495 43.602 23.679 54 10.692 25 9.239 21 
			 199596 44.827 23.335 52 11.361 25 9.777 22 
			 199697 46.532 23.003 49 12.743 27 10.461 22 
			 199798 47.256 23.840 50 12.034 25 11.241 24 
			 199899 50.189 25.291 50 12.531 25 12.332 25 
			 199900 53.651 26.421 49 13.619 25 13.278 25 
			 200001 57.329 27.809 49 15.407 27 14.200 25 
			 200102 61.952 31.469 50 15.144 24 15.246 25 
			 200203 65.919 32.648 50 16.632 25 16.648 25 
			 200304(93) 72.473 37.517 52 15.618 22 18.946 26 
		
	
	(89) Expenditure financed from revenue support grant, specific grants within AEF, special grants, non-domestic rates, council taxes and balances. Also includes SSA reduction grant (199495 onwards), police grant (199596 onwards), Central Support Protection Grant (19902000 to 200102) and General Greater London Authority Grant (200001 onwards). This column is not the total of the others. The difference is due to funding by balances and other adjustments.
	(90) Revenue support grants, specific and special grants within AEF, SSA reduction grant (199495 onwards), police grant (199596 onwards), Central Support Protection grant (19992000 to 200102) and General GLA grant (200001 onwards).
	(91) includes City offset.
	(92) Gross of council tax benefit and council tax transitional reduction scheme.
	(93) Budget estimates

Planning Applications (Greater London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average length of time is for processing planning applications in Greater London.

Keith Hill: The information available from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is the percentages of applications for planning permission and related consents which are decided within eight weeks, between eight and 13 weeks and in more than 13 weeks. The statistics are used to monitor performance against the Government targets that 60 per cent. of applications for major development should be decided within 13 weeks, that 65 per cent. of applications for minor development should be decided within eight weeks, and that 80 per cent. of applications for other development (predominantly householder applications) should be decided within eight weeks.
	In the July to September 2003 quarter, London boroughs collectively decided 56 per cent. of major applications within 13 weeks, 65 per cent. of minor applications within eight weeks and 78 per cent. of other applications within eight weeks.

Port Clarence

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 4 March 2004, Official Report, column 1106W, on Port Clarence, Stockton, whether future involvement of English Partnerships and One North East in the development of Port Clarence would be subject to EU regulations concerning shipbuilding subsidies.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	Any proposals for port and associated developments that are of potential assistance to commercial shipbuilding would be subject to the EU framework on state aid for shipbuilding (2003/C 317/06). However, these considerations do not apply where such developments are clearly for the sole benefit of naval shipbuilding, since military vessels are excluded from the provisions of the framework.

R and D

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister to whom his Department distributes expenditure on research and development; how many staff are employed as a result; and how many research establishments (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have in each region of England.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not distribute expenditure on research and development to external bodies and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its agencies do not have research establishments.

HEALTH

Drug Treatment (Crosby)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Crosby are receiving drug treatment.

Melanie Johnson: Crosby is part of Sefton drug action team. There were 936 people receiving drug treatment in Sefton in 200001. This is the latest available data. Data broken down by drug action team for 200102 and 200203 have not yet been finalised and published.

Biomedical Sciences

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what bursaries are available for the training of biomedical scientists in the NHS; and on what criteria bursaries are awarded to support (a) paramedical services and (b) professions supplementary to medicine.

John Hutton: National Health Service bursaries are available to students who attend any one of a range of degree or higher education diploma-level health professional courses commissioned and funded by strategic health authority workforce directorates.
	Biomedical scientists will usually have attended a non-NHS vocational degree course where the funding for the course and student support arrangements fall under the Department for Education and Skills' general arrangements for students. This is followed by pre-registration training where they are paid a salary and work under a qualified biomedical scientist whilst gaining experience leading to state registration.
	Training for the paramedical services is not usually undertaken by means of undergraduate or equivalent courses, instead it is usually done through employment-based training and short vocational courses. In-service candidates are funded by ambulance trusts from their own budgets.
	NHS bursaries are available to students undertaking undergraduate courses leading to professional registration in a range of professions supplementary to medicine, now referred to as allied health professions. The aim of this policy is to support recruitment to those professions supported under the scheme and hence to those branches of health care.

Breast Feeding

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has collated about the relationship between breast feeding and obesity.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 15 March 2004
	In 2002, the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy reviewed the benefits of breastfeeding in its Scientific Review of the Welfare Food Scheme and stated that breastfed babies are less likely to become overweight as children. Since then, a further review in 2003, by Dewey et al, found that most large studies show a protective effect of breastfeeding against overweight in children and adolescents.
	The continued protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding remains a major public health priority. Further work is being undertaken by the Health Development Agency, which has appointed two collaborating centres in maternal and child nutrition. Their work will include increasing the body of evidence.

Cancer

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects his Department's cancer genetic risk assessment trials to be completed.

Melanie Johnson: We announced in the White Paper, Our Inheritance, Our FutureRealising the potential of genetics in the NHS, published on 24 June 2003, that the Department would be co-funding, in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Relief, a programme of pilot projects to support people who have a family history which suggests that they may have an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer.
	My noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, announced the 1.5 million programme setting up four pilot sites on 20 February 2004. The pilot services will offer genetic assessment to appropriate individuals, but this is not a trial of genetic risk assessment per se. The pilots will, rather, test out ways to provide an integrated service for individuals who are, or are concerned that they may be, at increased risk of cancer due to genetic factors. The pilot sites will run for up to three years and will be evaluated to ensure lessons about how best to deliver this type of service can be shared by the wider National Health Service.
	There are other relevant developments in the area of assessment of genetic risk of cancer. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is preparing guidance for the NHS in England and Wales on the identification and management of genetic risk of familial breast cancer. This is due to be published shortly and is expected to include guidance on how to assess risk and when it is appropriate to refer individuals for genetic testing.

Care Homes

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to ensure that appropriate procedures are being put in place to monitor the quality and effectiveness of methods for dealing with complaints in relation to care homes, in the transition from the National Care Standards Commission to the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

Stephen Ladyman: The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) will, at least initially, continue to use the same procedures that the National Care Standards Commission uses for dealing with complaints about regulated services and monitoring the quality and effectiveness of those procedures.
	The CSCI Commissioners have endorsed a decision to set up a CSCI complaints project board. One of the board's key objectives will be to review the effectiveness of the current arrangements for handling complaints about regulated providers under the Care Standards Act.

Care Homes

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he plans to take to investigate price differentials between self-funded and publicity-funded residents in care homes, in order to establish whether there is evidence of cross-subsidisation.

Stephen Ladyman: It is not unusual for service providers to charge different prices, nor to offer discounts for bulk purchasing, for example when councils block contract for a number of places. Care homes are required to provide transparent information so that future residents are aware of the full charge that will be made for the service.

Care Homes

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the decision by the Office of Fair Trading to undertake an investigation into the care home market.

Stephen Ladyman: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has acknowledged the complexity and changing nature of the care home market, but has also found evidence that the challenges this throws up can and is being met at local level. This confirms the Government's view that local problems are most amenable to local solutions. I am particularly heartened by the OFT's decision to focus in some depth on issues that have a particular bearing on information and choice for consumers. I look forward to reading the findings when they are produced, especially any recommendations for making the market work better for consumers.

Children's Hospices

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what children's hospices are open in England; and where they are situated.

Stephen Ladyman: There are 28 children's hospices registered with the National Care Standards Commission. They are situated as follows:
	Acorns Children's Hospice Birmingham, West Midlands
	Acorns Childrens Hospice Walsall, West Midlands
	Baby Hospice (Zoe's Place) Life Health Centre, Liverpool
	Butterwick Hospice Childrens Unit, Stockton-on-Tees
	Children's Hospice South West, Barnstaple, North Devon
	Christopher's (Childrens' Hospice) Guildford, Surrey
	Claire House Children's Hospice, Bebington, Wirral
	Demelza House Children's Hospice, Sittingbourne, Kent
	Derian House Children's Hospice, Chorley, Lancashire
	East Anglia' s Children' s Hospice, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
	East Anglia' s Children' s Hospice Quidenham Norwich, Norfolk
	East Anglia's Children's Hospice Suffolk, Ipswich, Suffolk
	Eden Valley Hospice Durdar Road, Carlisle, Cumbria
	Francis House, Didsbury, Manchester
	Haven House (The White House), Woodford Green, Essex
	Helen House, Oxford, Oxfordshire
	Hope House Children's Respite Hospice, Oswestry, Shropshire
	Little Haven Children's Hospice, Benfleet, Essex
	Martin House Grove Road, Wetherby, West Yorkshire
	Naomi House Children's Hospice, Sutton Scotney, Winchester
	Pasque Charity, Luton, Bedfordshire
	Rainbows Children's Hospice Loughborough, Leicestershire
	Richard House Childrens Hospice, London
	St. Andrew's Childrens Hospice, Grimsby, North East Lines
	St. Oswald' s Children's Hospice, Newcastle Upon Tyne
	The Donna Louise Trust Treetops, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire
	TrinityThe Hospice In The Fylde, Blackpool, Lancashire
	Zoe's Place, Normanby, Middlesbrough

Cholesterol

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2004, Official Report, column 1160W, on cholesterol, if he will estimate the prevalence of raised blood cholesterol in (a) men and (b) women in England.

Melanie Johnson: Figures available from the Health Survey for England 1998 are shown in the table. In this survey, cholesterol was considered to be raised at a level of 6.5mmol/l or over.
	
		Prevalence of raised cholesterol by sex in England, 1998
		
			  Adults 16 + with a validsample 
			  Men Women 
		
		
			 Raised cholesterol (Percentage  =6.5mmol/l) 18.1 22.3 
			
			 Bases (Number) 4846 5428 
		
	
	Source:
	Health Survey for England Department of Health.

Cystic Fibrosis Screening

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made to implement his commitment to introduce new-born screening for cystic fibrosis in England in 2004.

Stephen Ladyman: Ministers announced the implementation of a new national programme for newborn cystic fibrosis screening, subject to further advice from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) about screening protocols, costs, feasibility and timetables.
	An expert working group of the UK NSC has carefully considered the best way of screening and a robust protocol has now been developed for the screening test and diagnostic follow up. Standards of best practice for laboratory services have also been finalised. These will be considered by the UK NSC at its next meeting in March 2004.

Dentistry

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when amendments to the Dentists Act 1984 to recognise professional complementary dentists will come into force;
	(2)  when he expects registrations for professions complementary to dentistry to begin.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is working with the General Dental Council (GDC) to provide for the registration of appropriately trained professionals complementary to dentistry. An Order to amend the Dentists Act 1984 is being drafted under Section 60 of the Health Act 1999 which, after the necessary consultations, will be laid before Parliament later this year for debate under the affirmative procedure. We expect registration to commence in 2005.

Dentistry

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimates he has made of the number of dental technicians who illegally provide dentures direct to the public; how many successful prosecutions have been made for cases of providing illegal dentures; and in how many of these cases harm was caused to a patient;
	(2)  what estimates he has made of the number of dentures (a) made and (b) sold illegally in each of the past five years.

Rosie Winterton: No figures are available for the number of dentures made or sold by clinical dental technicians. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr.Burstow) on 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1203W, with regard to the number of prosecutions and convictions for illegal dental practice. Information is not available on whether harm was caused to the patient involved, but I understand that the General Dental Council's decision to prosecute is usually prompted by a complaint from a patient.

Dentistry

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to offer training programmes to prospective clinical dental technicians; and how long the training programmes will take to complete;
	(2)  whether the General Dental Council will accept qualifications received (a) outside the UK and (b) outside the EU as valid training for the role of clinical dental technician;
	(3)  how long the process of registering as a clinical dental technician will take;
	(4)  when the first UK trained clinical dental technician will be able to practise in the UK.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is working with the General Dental Council (GDC) to provide for the registration of appropriately trained clinical dental technicians (CDTs). An Order to amend the Dentists Act 1984 is being drafted under Section 60 of the Health Act 1999 which, after the necessary consultations, will be laid before Parliament later this year for debate under the affirmative procedure. The GDC will then decide which qualifications will make clinical dental technicians eligible for registration, what account should be taken of any training acquired overseas and the timetable for implementation of the new arrangements. It should be possible for registration to commence in 2005. When the qualifications required are established, we will alert national health service workforce development confederations to the training requirements for this new class of professional complementary to dentistry.

Dentistry

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the implementation of IT in pilot schemes for dentists; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department of Health has recently made funding, 517,000, available to primary care trusts, via the NHS Modernisation Agency, to support information technology software modifications in some of the Modernisation Agency's Options for Change field sites that are testing alternative models of remuneration for dentists.
	In addition, in September 2003 we announced new investment including 30 million for dental information technology. This investment will facilitate integration of National Health Service dentistry within the national programme for IT. It is intended that future IT solutions for dentistry will be consistent with those that are being developed for use across the NHS.

Dentistry

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have been recruited to the NHS in each year since 1997 in (a) total, (b) NHS Trust areas covering Portsmouth and (c) NHS Trust areas covering Hampshire.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the numberentering the general dental service (GDS) or the personal dental service (PDS) is shown in the table for England and Wales, Portsmouth Primary Care Trust (PCT) area and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area.
	
		Number of entrants to the GDS or PDS
		
			  England and Wales Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA Portsmouth City PCT 
		
		
			 2002 from 2001 1,619 84 11 
			 2003 from 2002 1,587 89 10 
		
	
	Note
	Dentists include principal dentists, their assistants and trainees. Entrants will include some dentists who left dentistry temporarily in previous years.

Department Branding

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department and its predecessors spent on branding the Department between 199798 and 200304, broken down by (a) consultancy fees, (b) design and orders for new stationery, (c) website design and (d) other material featuring new logos.

Rosie Winterton: Since 1 May 1997, 140,896 has been spent on the development of the current Department of Health identity. This includes new logo design and development, accompanying guidelines and a recent review and update to the guidelines publication.
	The cost of design of new stationery carrying the Department of Health logo is included in the above figure. New stationery has always replaced old stationery on a renewal basis.
	Branding has not been a factor in the development and redevelopment phases of the Department of Health website.
	In January 2000, 3,312.50 was spent on 10 new building signs (two for each site) that carried the new Department of Health logo.
	It is not possible to define the cost of producing other materials featuring the Department of Health logo, as branding has not been a factor in their production.

Health Services

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public money has been spent on health in Chorley in each of the last seven years.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is not available. Allocations made to the former South Lancashire Health Authority and the Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust since 1997 are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Year Amount  
		
		
			 South Lancashire Health Authority  
			 199798 132,480,000 
			 199899 138,391,000 
			 19992000 185,797,000 
			 200001 206,248,000 
			 200102 223,342,000 
			 200203 247,205,000 
			   
			 Chorley  South Ribble Primary Care Trust  
			 200304 171,696,000

Health Services

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses and (b) doctors are training in Chorley Hospital.

Melanie Johnson: Information on doctors in training is collected on a trust basis. The data shown in the table represents the latest available information for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust.
	
		
			 At 30 September 2002 Number (headcount) 
		
		
			 All doctors in training 243 
			 Of which:  
			 Registrar 81 
			 Senior House Officer 127 
			 House Officer 35 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.
	Information on nurse training is not collected on an individual hospital basis, but at strategic health authority (SHA) level. The majority of the training takes place in higher education institutes with clinical placements being undertaken in hospitals. In 200304, the Cumbria and Lancashire SHA is funding 1,075 students to start pre-registration nurse training.
	Source:
	Department of Health MPT quarterly monitoring.

Health Services

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list new medical services available at Chorley Hospital since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: The new developments listed have been introduced at the Chorley and South District general hospital since 1997:
	
		
			 Service Introduced since 1997 
		
		
			 Additional new medical ward June 2002 
			 New renal dialysis unit June 2002 
			 New diabetes/dermatology centre April 2003 
			 Additional outpatient services 1997-present 
			 Investigation unit for medicine 200102 
			 Discharge lounge (to be relocated April 2004) 200102 
			 Additional bed in coronary care 1997 
			 Two additional beds in intensive care 200102 
			 Additional endoscopy session, including the provision of nurse endoscopy 2001-present

Health Services

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been treated in the Renal Centre at Chorley hospital since it opened; and if he will make a statement on the effects on local people of using the centre.

Melanie Johnson: This information is not held centrally.
	The new unit has eased access to dialysis treatment and has also added significant capacity to the service provided by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust.

Health Services

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women with suspected breast cancer saw a specialist within two weeks in each year since 2000.

Melanie Johnson: The two week outpatient waiting time standard was introduced in April 1999 for urgent general practitioner referrals of suspected breast cancer. The following shows the number of women seen within two weeks for each year since 2000.
	
		
			  Number of women seen by a specialistwithin two weeks of urgent referral 
		
		
			 2000 84,989 
			 2001 97,254 
			 2002 109,339 
			 2003 119,888

Health Services

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many constituents in Chorley over 60 years of age (a) benefited from free eye tests and (b) were eligible for free eye tests in 2003.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is not available.
	The total number of sight tests paid for by Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority in the year 200203 for the 'aged 60 and over' category was 189,000. Sight tests can not be equated to the numbers of patients. Although most people do not come back for a sight test within the year, some patients suffering from medical conditions are advised to have re-examinations sooner.
	The total population for those aged 60 and over in Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority is approximately 429,300 (as at June 2002). All people aged 60 and over are eligible for national health service sight tests.

Immigrant Medical Inspections

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what bodies have responsibility for inspection and scrutiny of the medical inspection of immigrants function.

Melanie Johnson: The lead body on the inspection and scrutiny of healthcare provided by the National Health Service, including that of medical inspection of immigrants, is the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (CHAI).

Infant Formula

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations his Department has received regarding the ingredients used in infant formula;
	(2)  what representations his Department has received in the last 12 months about breaches of infant formula and follow-on formula regulations.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 15 March 2004
	In May 2003, the former European Scientific Committee on Food published its report on the revision of essential requirements of infant formulae and follow-on formulae. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) received detailed comments on that report from members of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition subgroup on Maternal and Child Nutrition; from Baby Milk Action and from the Infant and Dietetic Foods Association.
	In the last 12 months, the FSA has received two letters on the subject of breaches of The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations 1995 (as amended).

Medical Students

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of medical students failed to graduate or complete their courses in each year since 1990.

John Hutton: Collection of data on students is a matter for the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA). HESA collects data on the drop out rate of first degree students by institution, but not by subject.

Mersey Regional Ambulance Service

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collects on the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 11 March 2004
	The Department collects information about volume of service and performance against required standards; details of the returns are in the statistical bulletin Ambulance Service, England: 200203. A copy is available in the Library and also on the internet at www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0313.htm.
	The Department also collects ambulance expenditure returns. The purpose of the returns is to identify total expenditure incurred in the running of ambulance services, and to analyse the breakdown between emergency, non emergency and costs.

Mersey Regional Ambulance Service

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps have been taken to monitor the performance of Mersey Regional Ambulance Service since 26 November 2003;
	(2)  what discussions his officials have had with (a) the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service and (b) Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority about improving the performance of the ambulance service since 26 November 2003.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 11 March 2004
	Departmental officials have held discussions with the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority (SHA), as part of a regular review of performance across a full range of issues. The responsibility for performance management of national health service trusts lies with the SHAs.

Mersey Regional Ambulance Service

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls Mersey Regional Ambulance Service (a) failed to answer within two minutes and (b) took more than five minutes to answer in each month since October 2003.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 11 March 2004
	This information is not collected centrally.

National Service Framework for Older People

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to set further milestones for the National Service Framework for Older People; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: There are no current plans to set further milestones for the National Service Framework for older people.

NHS Funding (Manchester)

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much additional money will be allocated to (a) South Manchester Primary Care Trust and (b) Central Manchester Primary Care Trust as a result of the amendments to the census figures for the City of Manchester.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 15 March 2004
	Revenue allocations for the provision of healthcare, made to primary care trusts (PCTs) for 200304 to 200506 were announced on 11 December 2002. There are no plans to revisit these allocations.
	Any changes in PCTs' population figures will be taken into account for the next round of allocations. Preparatory work for the next allocations round, covering the period up to 200708, will commence shortly.

Prescriptions

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the potential for fraud in the use of electronic transmission of prescriptions.

Rosie Winterton: Three pilot projects on the electronic transmission of prescriptions (ETP) ran from mid-2002 to mid-2003 and were independently evaluated by the Sowerby Centre for Health Informatics at the University of Newcastle. An essential part of this was a full security analysis to assess potential risks and threats, including fraud, and ensuring appropriate countermeasures were put in place.
	ETP is now being taken forward as part of the national programme for information technology. The lessons learned on fraud prevention from the earlier pilots are being incorporated into the design of the national model for ETP.
	The NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) is fully involved in the development of the ETP project and will continue to work to ensure that opportunities for fraud are minimised.

Primary Care Funding

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how long he expects it to take fully to implement the new funding system for primary care trusts.

John Hutton: pursuant to his reply, 4 March 2004, Official Report, c. 1117W
	I regret my previous response was incorrect. The second paragraph of the response should have read as follows.
	The new formula was used to set PCT target allocations for the latest round of national health service revenue allocations, covering the period 200306.

Radon Gas

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths were attributable to radon gas exposure in each of the last five years.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 15 March 2004
	From the known radiation risks, the National Radiological Protection Board has calculated that exposure to radon gas in the home and work place causes approximately 2,500 lung cancer deaths per year in the United Kingdom.

Smoking

George Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to minimise adverse effects of second hand smoking on the respiratory health of children;
	(2)  what information is available to new parents about the implications of second hand smoke for the respiratory health of children;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effect of second hand smoke on the respiratory health of babies and young children; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many children under the age of five are being treated for respiratory conditions; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of these children who live in households with at least one smoker;
	(5)  what measures he is taking to inform parents of the implications of secondhand smoking for the respiratory health of babies and young children.

Melanie Johnson: It is estimated that, each year, more than 17,000 children under five years are admitted to United Kingdom hospitals because of respiratory illness caused by the exposure to other people's cigarette smoke.
	The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) Report published in 1998 reported that:
	passive smoking is a cause of lung cancer and childhood respiratory disease.
	There is also evidence that passive smoking is a cause of ischaemic heart disease and cot death, middle ear disease and asthmatic attacks in children. Parents need to be informed about the effects of passive smoking on their children.
	The World Health Organisation has found that children are especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke. This is because their lungs are smaller and their immune systems less developed, rendering them more susceptible to respiratory and ear infections triggered by passive smoking; children are smaller and breathe faster than adults and so take in more harmful chemicals per kg of weight than adults; and children often have less choice than adults to leave a smoke-filled room.
	The Department has taken action to increase the public's awareness of the dangers from secondhand smoke. The smoking kids television advertisement launched last summer was this country's first ever-substantial campaign on secondhand smoke. This has been followed up by major billboard and press adverts. Focusing on children, the television advertisement says:
	Every year thousands of children have to go into hospital because of breathing other people's cigarette smoke.
	This goes hand in hand with some of the new health warnings on cigarette packs, which highlight the dangers of secondhand smoke, including the specific advice, protect childrendon't let them breath your smoke.
	Evaluation results show that awareness of the messages had been raised. Spontaneous awareness of advertising or publicity of smoking around children rose from 30 per cent. at the pre stage to 74 per cent. at the post stage. Furthermore; there was 78 per cent. spontaneous awareness in households where there were children and at least one of the parents smoked. 55 per cent. of respondents were able to spontaneously recall an element from the campaign, with 49 per cent. of respondents recalling the image of smoke coming from the children's mouths or noses. Prompted recognition of the television advertisement was 79 per cent. The advertising had significant impact amongst non-smokers, with 69 per cent. at the post stage agreeing that the advertisements made them feel that they should encourage their partners and friends that they should not smoke around children.

Smoking

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to reduce the level of smoking in children under the age of 16.

Melanie Johnson: The White Paper, Smoking Kills, published in December 1998, committed the Government to reduce smoking amongst children aged 1115 from 13 per cent. to 11 per cent. by 2005, and 9 per cent. by 2010. The latest figures, for 2002, show smoking among 1115 year olds had fallen to 10 per cent. We have a comprehensive tobacco control strategy, which includes a number of measures likely to make a particular impact on children smoking:
	The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002 provided for a comprehensive ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products: the cigarettes smoked most by children are also those which were most heavily advertised.
	Tough enforcement on under-age sales: in September 2000 the Government launched an Enforcement Protocol with local authorities to ensure that the existing legislation on under-age sales is properly enforced.
	The Government supports roof of age card schemes, hich protect shopkeepers and children alike.
	Tougher new restrictions on siting of cigarette vending machines have been introduced.
	The national healthy school standard aims to support schools in the process of becoming healthier and is jointly funded by the Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Health and hosted by the Health Development Agency. The overall aim is to help schools become healthy and effective learning environments and is part of the Government's drive to reduce health inequalities, promote social inclusion and raise educational standards through school improvement. Themes include personal, social and health education, including among others, tobacco.
	Maintaining the high price of cigarettes is a particular deterrent for children.

Stress Incontinence

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of women suffer from continence problems as a direct result of childbirth; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Figures on the number of women who suffer from continence problems as a direct result of childbirth are not collected centrally.

Sunsmart Campaign

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department will take to support the Sunsmart campaign organised by Cancer Research UK;
	(2)  what steps his Department will take to increase public awareness of high factor suncreams;
	(3)  if he will take steps to subsidise the cost of high factor suncream.

Melanie Johnson: Decisions on the future funding of the Cancer Research UK's SunSmart sun awareness campaign will be taken in due course.
	We have no plans to subsidise the cost of high factor suncream. Research evidence supports our view and that of key stakeholders that shade and clothing (including eyewear) are safer and more reliable means of protecting people against the harmful effects of ultra violet (UV) rays. The Cancer Research UK's SunSmart campaign reinforces this message by saying that sunscreen is one element in the SunSmart campaign's advice on protection against the risk of skin cancer, and should be used if seeking shade (especially between 11.00 and 15.00) and covering skin with clothing is not possible. If sunscreen is used, it should be factor 15 or above and should be regularly applied. In practice, only minimal additional benefit is gained by using factors higher than 15. A Sun Protection Factor 15 sunscreen blocks more than 92 per cent, of the UVB rays.
	Sun awareness information is available from the SunSmart campaign at www.sunsmart.org.uk and from the Department SunSafe web pages at www.doh.gov.uk/sunsafe, where specific advice is provided on the use of sunscreens.

Working Time Directive

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his Answer of 11 February 2004, Official Report, column 1548W, on the Working Time Directive, if he will list the concerns which have been raised over the implementation of the Directive in the context of NHS compliance for doctors in training from 1 August.

John Hutton: Representations received have covered both the ways in which compliance with the Directive can be achieved, as well as the problems caused to the National Health Service by the decisions of the European Court of Justice on the SIMAP/Jaeser cases.

Working Time Directive

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March, Official Report, col. 1119W, on the Working Time Directive, how he will (a) monitor compliance with the Working Time Directive and (b) prepare for its implementation.

John Hutton: The Working Time Regulations are a legal requirement; implementation and monitoring of compliance is being taken forward locally.